One-of-a-Kind Missouri

Missouri is home to many unique attractions you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Here are just a few of the one-of-a-kind sights you can only see in the Show-Me State:

Gateway Arch
Soaring 630 feet into the air, the Gateway Arch(link is external) in St. Louis was erected to commemorate westward expansion. Completed in 1965, the structure – designed by noted architect Eero Saarinen – is the tallest arch in the world. An extensive renovation of the surrounding 90-acre grounds along the Mississippi River and the museum located beneath the base of the arch was completed in 2018. Previously a national memorial, the Gateway Arch became the country’s 60th national park. The grounds also include the Old Courthouse, a former state and federal courthouse where the Dred Scott case originated.

Mark Twain Boyhood Home
Samuel Clemens, more famously known as Mark Twain, was born in Florida, Missouri, and spent much of his boyhood in Hannibal – the Missouri River town that inspired some of his greatest works including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Learn more about the Father of American Literature at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum(link is external) and Mark Twain Cave(link is external) – featured in five of Twain’s novels. Clemens’ signature was recently discovered, and authenticated, on the wall of the cave.

Warm Springs Ranch
You’ve seen them on Super Bowl commercials, in parades and at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Budweiser Clydesdales – some of the most famous horses in the world – are born and trained in central Missouri. Visit Warm Springs Ranch(link is external) near Boonville to learn more about these gentle giants. Tour the state-of-the-art barns and the lush rolling hills that more than 70 Clydesdales call home.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum(link is external) in Kansas City is the only museum of its kind dedicated to celebrate the rich history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. The Negro Leagues were formed in Kansas City in 1920 by the owners of eight teams that included the Kansas City Monarchs. The museum was established in 1990 to preserve this important chapter in baseball and U.S. history.

The Birthplace of Route 66
Route 66 runs through eight states, from Chicago to Los Angeles, with more than 300 miles stretching through the Show-Me State. But Springfield, Missouri, is the place where the “Mother Road” got its famous name. The History Museum on the Square(link is external) includes an exhibit about the iconic highway. Other Route 66 stops in Springfield include one of the early Steak and Shake(link is external) restaurants, the Rail Haven Motor Court(link is external) and the Route 66 Car Museum(link is external).

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Liz Coleman, PR Specialist, [email protected](link sends e-mail)
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