Missouri's nickname, the "Show-Me State," is attributed to its residents' reputation for skepticism and desire for evidence before believing something. The phrase is often linked to a statement made in the 1890s by Missouri Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who declared, "I’m from Missouri, and you’ve got to show me." This characteristic reflects the practical and no-nonsense attitude Missourians are believed to possess. The nickname has since become a point of pride and a symbol of the state's culture of straightforwardness and reliability.