Missouri: River Landscapes, History and Places to Explore

The Gateway Arch recalls Thomas Jefferson’s vision and St. Louis’s role in the westward expansion of the United States. Missouri can also be explored through its river landscapes, caves, historic sites and a wide range of visitor experiences. Options range from a museum at the Gateway Arch to tours whose duration and route length make it easy to plan your time.

History at the Gateway Arch

At the Gateway Arch, you can ride to the top. The Museum at the Gateway Arch highlights St. Louis’s role in the history of the United States; admission is free. Together, the two experiences offer different ways to explore the subject: the museum focuses on historical context, while the ride to the top offers a chance to experience the Arch itself.

Hannibal also offers a way to connect with history: the Mark Twain Boyhood Home is a National Historic Landmark. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum property includes six historically significant buildings and two interactive museums. A self-guided tour explores Hannibal from Samuel Clemens’s perspective. This lets you take in each site at your own pace while following the perspective set out by the museum for the tour.

Rivers and Rock Landscapes

Most of Katy Trail State Park runs close alongside the Missouri River. Rivers are also central to Ozark National Scenic Riverways, with a particular conservation focus: it was the first national park area established to protect a river system. The area is home to some of the country’s largest freshwater springs. Trails along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers offer another way to experience the landscape there.

Elephant Rocks State Park offers a different perspective on nature. The rock formations there were formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite. This age makes the rock itself a notable part of the visit: alongside the visible formations, their geological origins also come into focus. Visitors can swim in the recreational area at Johnson’s Shut-Ins in Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. River conditions and access rules can vary; take this into account when planning your visit.

Experiences in the Ozarks

Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-style theme park in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. The park has more than 40 rides and attractions; this number can change. From spring through Christmas, it hosts ten festivals and events. The seasonal offerings can be a focus of a visit; dates for individual events may change, so check them before your trip.

Food is also part of the park’s offerings, including slow-smoked barbecue, hearty buffets, sweet treats and festival specialties. Individual dishes may change. When planning, you can distinguish the 1880s style from the changing program of events and food offerings.

Cave Tours and Visit Duration

On tours of Onondaga Cave, trained guides lead visitors along paved paths lit by electric lights. The tour is less than a mile long and takes about one hour and 15 minutes. The informative cave tour at Lake of the Ozarks State Park takes about an hour and covers a half-mile round trip. This gives you two different sets of figures to compare when planning your time: about 75 minutes and less than a mile at Onondaga, compared with about an hour and a half-mile explicitly described as a round trip at Lake of the Ozarks. Tour times, reservations and operating details may change; check the latest information before your visit.

For a different way to get your bearings, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield offers a 4.9-mile driving tour with eight stops. The number of stops and the stated length give you a concrete framework if you’re considering adding this destination to your visit. Together, these different formats show how a stay in Missouri can combine historic sites, nature and clearly defined activities.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Linn County, Scott County, Clinton County, Cole County, Webster County, Vernon County, Saline County, Audrain, Daviess, Polk County, Mississippi County, Moniteau County, Texas County, Ozark County, Bates County, Oregon County, Dunklin County, Washington County, Gasconade County, Hickory County, Iron County, Pulaski, Cape Girardeau County, Barton County, Platte, Nodaway County, Butler County, Perry County, Henry County, Andrew County, Newton County, Atchison, Douglas, Lafayette, Pike, Livingston, Stone, Grundy, Boone, Randolph, Cooper, Callaway, Ste. Genevieve County, Stoddard County, Camden County, Christian County, Pettis County, Benton County, Franklin County, Crawford County, Putnam County, St. Francois County, Johnson County, Adair County, Howell County, Ripley County, Marion County, Warren County, Cass County, Wright County, Pemiscot, Barry, Taney, Jasper, Greene, Phelps, Jefferson, St Louis, St. Charles, Jackson, Cedar, Ray, Clay, Miller County, Osage County, New Madrid County, Buchanan County, Monroe County and Lawrence County.

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