PERRY, Mo. (WGEM) - The holiday season starts on Halloween for many, but some Missourians kicked off seasonal celebrations Saturday with a rather unique event.

National Mule Appreciation Day is October 26. Saturday, Oct. 25, residents of Perry, Mo. celebrated by dedicating the new Missouri Mule Museum.

The building documents the sturdy steed’s path through American history, from George Washington’s mule breeding program to their use in agricultural, industrial and even wartime labor.

In 1995, the mule was named the Missouri state animal for its role in shaping the “Show Me State.”

“History is important, and it’s so quickly forgotten, so this is just a way for people to realize the importance of the mule,” said Jeanie Gay, the Missouri Mule Museum’s founder.

Gay’s father began showin

See Full Page