A mural in downtown Chillicothe, MO honors the city's status as the home of sliced bread.
 
Chillicothe, Missouri has been billed as the birthplace of sliced bread, where the Chillicothe Baking Company first introduced it to the public on July 7, 1928. The city even has a museum, the Grand River Historical Society Museum, which preserves this history.

Now, the city wants to share that history with the rest of the state. A state representative from Chillicothe has proposed a bill that would mark July 7 as Sliced Bread Day in Missouri. Representative Rusty Black believes the bill has been well received by his fellow lawmakers.

“I think it stands a pretty good chance,” Rep. Black, says about the bill’s likelihood of becoming law.

It would be a way for Chillicothe to boost tourism. The city of around 9,500 is even planning a new visitors’ center in the same location where the Chillicothe Baking Company stood 90 years ago.

“It's another reason for people to come into our community and spend their dollars there as well as maybe learn things about North Central Missouri,” Black says.

Chillicothe holds several events based on sliced bread, including Sliced Bread Saturday. This street festival features live entertainment, sidewalk sales, a bread baking contest, and much more, all based around celebrating the history and heritage of the city.