JC Penney in Hamilton Missouri

Boyhood roots, retail legacy, and a year of celebration for JC Penney in Hamilton Missouri.

Hamilton, MO is proud to be the childhood home of James Cash “J.C.” Penney—the retailer whose “Golden Rule” philosophy helped transform American Main Streets. This September, our town marks two milestones: J.C. Penney’s 150th birthday on September 16, 2025, and the anniversary of his 500th store opening right here in Hamilton. Later in the month, we’ll gather again for a special moment in our town’s story: the dedication of a new JC Penney statue on Saturday, September 27, 2025

From a Hamilton farm to an American success story

J.C. Penney was born on September 16, 1875, on a farm just outside Hamilton. The seventh of twelve children, he grew up with a strong work ethic under the guidance of his father, a Baptist minister and farmer. After graduating from Hamilton High School, Penney worked as a store clerk in town, an early experience that sparked his interest in merchandising and customer service—principles he would carry across a continent.

Seeking opportunity (and better health in drier air), Penney moved west and sharpened his skills in small dry-goods stores. On April 14, 1902, he opened his own Golden Rule store in Kemmerer, Wyoming—the first step in what would become one of America’s best-known retail chains. The company would later adopt his name and values, becoming J.C. Penney Company.

The Golden Rule—and growth across America

Penney’s business philosophy was simple and demanding: treat customers fairly, price honestly, and keep faith with the communities you serve. The formula worked. By 1913, the chain was incorporated as J.C. Penney Company, and its footprint expanded rapidly. In just over a decade, the company grew from a handful of western stores to a nationwide presence

Coming home: Hamilton’s 500th J.C. Penney store (1924)

One of the most meaningful chapters in Penney’s story loops directly back to Hamilton Missouri. In 1924, after his first Hamilton employer J.M. Hale retired, Penney purchased Hale’s dry goods building and opened his 500th J.C. Penney store right here—in the same building where his retail career began. He even invited fourteen Hamilton citizens to be partners in the store, a gesture that reflected the shared-success spirit he often called “the man with a thousand partners.”

Today, that historic location continues to welcome visitors as Penney’s Quilt Shop, a Missouri Star Quilt Co. store that honors the building’s retail lineage. If you’re exploring Quilt Town, U.S.A., it’s a wonderful way to connect Penney’s past with Hamilton’s creative present.

Penney's Quilt shop in Hamilton Missouri

Visit the J.C. Penney Memorial Library & Museum (and Boyhood Home)

Hamilton Missouri preserves Penney’s legacy with two accessible, in-town sites:

Trip planning tip: Both the museum and boyhood home sit near Hamilton’s walkable downtown. Pair your visit with a stroll through Quilt Town’s shops and the Missouri Quilt Museum for a full day of Hamilton history and handcrafts.

J.C. Penney Memorial Library & Museum — 312 N. Davis St., Hamilton, MO 64644. The museum shares photographs, memorabilia, and stories from Penney’s life and the rise of the J.C. Penney Company. The library itself was built through a community-Penney partnership: in 1920, Penney offered $10,000 to build a memorial library for his parents if Hamilton residents would raise $5,000—which they did. The library building opened February 12, 1921, and later joined the museum program in 1976. (Check the library site for the latest hours.) hamiltonpubliclibrary.com
J.C. Penney Boyhood Home — Just a short walk from the museum, the restored home offers a glimpse into Penney’s early years in Hamilton. It’s a separate site from the museum; many visitors enjoy seeing both on the same trip. (Local signage and downtown markers point the way.)

J C Penney boyhood home in Hamilton Missouri

2025: A year of JC Penney in Hamilton Missouri celebrations

150th Birthday—September 16, 2025. Hamilton will mark J.C. Penney’s sesquicentennial with exhibits, talks, and community activities that highlight his life and the values that guided him. (Penney was born September 16, 1875.)

Anniversary of the 500th Store. In 1924, Penney chose Hamilton for his 500th location—a milestone tied to his beginnings here and to the building where he first clerked. This month’s programming will revisit the story of that historic opening and what it meant for our town. SHSMO Historic Missourians
Statue Dedication—J.C. Penney Day, Saturday, September 27, 2025. Join us in Penney Park for the dedication of a new bronze statue of J.C. Penney, commissioned by the City of Hamilton and community partners. It’s a moment to honor the man, the merchant, and his enduring Hamilton ties. KTTN-FM 92.3 and KGOZ -FM 101.7

(For schedules, street closures, or event updates, follow the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce and the J.C. Penney Memorial Library & Museum pages before you travel.)

“His first quilt shop,” Quilt Town connections, and why this history still matters for JC Penney in Hamilton Missouri

If you’ve heard locals say, “his first quilt shop,” they’re probably talking about the historic Hamilton building that became Store #500—now the Penney’s Quilt Shop. While J.C. Penney’s first store was the Golden Rule in Kemmerer, Wyoming (1902), Hamilton’s store is uniquely special because it sits where he first learned the trade as a young clerk, and where he later chose to plant a major milestone in his hometown. That same storefront now welcomes quilters from around the country—a fitting tribute in Quilt Town, U.S.A.

Hamilton’s creative renaissance—sparked in part by the Missouri Star Quilt Co.—means visitors who come for Penney’s history can also enjoy a vibrant maker community, gallery-like fabric shops, and the Missouri Quilt Museum just a few blocks away. The retail spirit JC Penney championed—serving customers well, investing locally, creating opportunity—remains visible on our streets

Beyond the storefronts: Penney’s philanthropy and principles

Penney wasn’t just a merchant; he was a builder of institutions. His library gift to Hamilton set a tone that combined hometown pride with civic investment. Nationally, he supported agricultural initiatives (including Penney Farms in Florida) and charitable causes through the J.C. Penney Foundation. Even after financial setbacks during the Great Depression, he remained engaged with the company and with the communities J.C. Penney stores served.

That sense of partnership showed up in everyday ways, too: the company’s emphasis on honor, confidence, service, and cooperation trained generations of retailers. A young Sam Walton even learned practical lessons on a J.C. Penney sales floor before founding Walmart decades later

Plan your JC Penney in Hamilton Missouri heritage visit

Start at the Museum (312 N. Davis St.) to see photos, artifacts, and interpretive displays. Then walk to the Boyhood Home nearby to complete the story. (Check current hours before you go.)

See Store #500’s legacy in action at Penney’s Quilt Shop, operating today within the same historic retail footprint.

Time your trip for September 2025 to join the 150th birthday events and the statue dedication on September 27. Downtown will feature special programming, and Hamilton’s walkable core makes it easy to combine history with shopping and dining.

Why Hamilton Missouri still celebrates J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney’s story is inseparable from Hamilton Missouri: a determined local kid, a formative first job, and a promise kept when success returned him home. The 500th store he opened here symbolized gratitude and partnership; the library and museum preserve that spirit; and the new statue will invite future generations to ask who he was—and what we can build when we work together. In Quilt Town, U.S.A., we honor Penney not only as a national figure, but as a neighbor whose values still shape our Main Street.

Come celebrate with us—September is a perfect time to discover Hamilton’s J.C. Penney heritage.