The highlight of the 1950's was the celebration of Tipton's Centennial. This milestone was celebrated by a week-long series of festivities which required months of planning. The celebration was timed to coincide with a re-enactment of the first overland run of the Butterfield Stage. A stagecoach carrying specially

stamped mail left Tipton and headed for San Francisco on September 16, 1958.

Some of the events which took place during Centennial Week, September 13-20, 1958, were: a country ham breakfast, an old-fashioned basket dinner, dedication of the Butterfield marker on Highway 50, dedication of a Seely memorial on the City Hall lawn, a mayor's cow milking contest, an old-fashion style show, and a beard contest. A gigantic pageant with a cast of over 300 portrayed Tipton's history for six nights at Cardinal Field. A carnival was set up downtown and fireworks closed each evening.

Four parades featuring 130 units wound through the streets during this week. Floats were built by many organizations and groups; old machinery and even an old-time hearse found their way into the parade.

The women made Centennial dresses and men grew beards. Caravans of people in costume trooped to the neighboring cities for parades and other appearances to promote the Centennial celebration.

Displays of old pictures and artifacts were placed in windows of stores along Moniteau Street. Wooden nickels, good during Centennial Week, were sold. A commemorative booklet was published and sold. Missouri Pacific sent a train engine on rubber wheels which took visitors on rides around Tipton. An airplane, stationed on the Merlyn Hays' farm east of Tipton, took interested persons up for an aerial view of the proceedings.

The following pages contain pictures of Tipton's Centennial celebration.