History of Branson
from: Discover Branson
Branson, Missouri dates back to the early 1800's. Taney County was establish around 1837, with Forsyth a river town named as the county seat. By 1882 Rueben Branson opened a general store and later a post office. It became known as Branson as that was the name the post office recognized. Settlers arrived in Branson in 1884 after a promise of free land. The area started out with homesteads of 160 acres. In 1894 William Henry Lynch bought the Marvel Cave which became the heart of Silver Dollar City Theme park. In 1907 Harold Bell published the novel Shepherd of the Hills, part fact, part legend and part dream of the time he spent there with the Ross family. The novel gained such popularity that it attracted many tourists to Branson. When Branson was incorporated in 1912 it had 1,200 residents, and before long they had the notion of making Branson a resort town. Some of the first businesses included a commercial ice plant, a soft drink bottling plant, a candy factory, an ice cream factory next to the waterfront, the Winch Spoke Company, and a logging factory. In 1912 a fire burned the entire business district, but they rebuilt, along with the Powersite Dam, which created Lake Taneycomo.

After WWII, many artists, craftment, servicement, war industry workers, and retirees began to move into the Branson area. In the 1940's Hugo and Mary Herschend of Chicago purchased the Marvel Cave and started cave tours. Because many people did not want to go deep inside the cave, Mary decided to entertain those waiting with the crafts from around the area, she expanded this into a single street of shops, crafts and a stage coach ride, thus eventually Silver Dollar City was started in 1960. The name came from the change given customers at that time.

Also around 1949, an artist, Steve Miller and a businessman, Joe Todd, along with the help of local carpenters began to create a gigantic lighted Adoration Scenes on the bluff of Mount Branson. These figures were up to 28 feet tall and were lit up for all to see on December 1st. Because so many visitors kept coming to see these figures, in 1950's the Chamber of Commerce created the Adoration Parade to accompany the lights. They still have this parade and lighting, bringing in over 30,000 visitors.

Table Rock Dam began in 1954 with completion in 1959, thus creating Table Rock Lake. Also in 1959 the Mabes family started the Baldknobbers Hillbilly Jamboree show. The Baldknobbers name came from a vigilante group during the Civil War Era, and the original show was in the basement of City Hall/Police Station. The show consisted of brothers Bob, Jim, Bill and Lyle Mabe, and friend Chick-Allen. They all played homemade instruments except Allen, who was called Chick-a-boo and he literally played the jawbone of a mule. In the later 1950's the Presley family moved their show to Branson. In 1960 the "Shepherd of the Hills" opened it Old Mill Theater at its farmstead. After the White River Rail Line cancelled its service to Branson, traffic became such a problem for the 75 mile trip, so they dynamited through the limestone hills between Springfield and Branson, thus making a straighter and shorter route. They ended with a 2 lane highway and an alternating passing lane, this bypass rerouted US 65 away from Branson's downtown business district, interchanges at Highway 76 and 248 and a new bridge across Lake Taneycomo.

In the 1960s and 70s  Branson continued to attract new entertainers, continuing the increase in tourism and growth in the area. Roy Clark was the first nationally acclaimed performer to open his theater in 1983. Other performers continued to come to perform and some built new theaters for their performances. In 1987 Box Car Willie became the first famous performer to perform on a permanent schedule in his own theater. In 1988, the first Ozark Mountain Christmas was held and the Factory Merchants Mall opened up.  The 1990's saw many changes, Soji Tabuchi moved his theater to Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Mel Tillis, Mickey Gilley, Ray Stevens, Moe Bandy, Buck Trent, Andy Williams, Willie Nelson, Jim Stafford, Kenny Rogers, the Osmonds, Jennifer Wilson, Wayne Newton, Bobby Vinto, Yakov Smirnoff, Tony Orlando and many others either built their own theaters or performed in Branson.

Times  continued to change and eventually Highway 65 was widened and improved to complete 4 lanes. The Branson Landing opened, which hosts a Bass Pro Shop, Hilton Hotel and Convention enter, 100's of shops and restaurants, live entertainment and public transportation system, an amazing light, water show. Even though Branson has grown you still experience small town courtesy and they are known for treating their veterans with honor and respect.