Discover Kirksville: Museums, Audio Tours and Nature

When planning a trip to Kirksville, culture, history and outdoor activity are distinct interests to consider. Museums and audio tours explore historical themes; designated trails are intended for hiking and cycling. Thousand Hills State Park adds a lake, wooded shores and expansive savannas. You can choose the focus that suits your stay without treating cultural attractions, outdoor activities and seasonal events as the same thing.

Museums and History

The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine explores the development of osteopathy from its beginnings in Kirksville to the present day. Its collections include more than 100,000 objects, photographs, documents and books. They span from the early 19th century to the present, with a particular focus on the years 1870 to 1940. In its two-story atrium, the museum houses the log cabin where Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917), the founder of osteopathy, was born, as well as the original two-room classroom building of the American School of Osteopathy, founded in 1892. Here, the history of a medical discipline and the preserved buildings where it was first taught come together under one roof.

The Ruth W. Towne Museum features multimedia exhibits across about 3,000 square feet. It is open to the general public and all visitors to the Truman State University campus. For those who want to include different types of museums in their trip, it offers another, multimedia perspective alongside the collections and buildings at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine.

Explore Kirksville on Foot

Kirksville’s free, podcast-style audio tours are available through the TravelStorys app. GPS-triggered stories begin when you reach a location, and you can explore the tour on foot at your own pace. It highlights 100 points of interest, with historical stories about 36 of them. It’s a good option for exploring independently and listening to stories at the locations themselves, rather than following a set walking-tour pace. App availability and content may change, so check the latest information about the TravelStorys app in advance.

Designated trails run throughout Kirksville and offer safe, scenic routes for hikers and cyclists. The trail network is a separate option for outdoor activity, while the audio tour focuses on stories connected to points of interest. When planning, you can decide whether you’d rather explore Kirksville on foot with historical stories or use designated routes for hiking and cycling.

Forest Lake and Thousand Hills State Park

Thousand Hills State Park sits along Forest Lake and is characterized by wooded shores and extensive savannas. An information pavilion explains petroglyphs created by the people who lived in this region more than 1,500 years ago. The landscape and the information about the region’s history offer different points of interest: the park provides nature by the water, while the pavilion introduces the area’s historical heritage.

Activities on Forest Lake include fishing, water skiing, canoeing and motorboating. A paved boat ramp provides access to the lake and is near the park’s restaurant lodge. There is also a free swimming beach along the shore. Water conditions and seasonal operating conditions can vary; the swimming beach is also available seasonally. Before using the boat ramp, check the conditions in effect at the time. If you’re planning your trip around a specific activity, take these details into account.

Events and Seasonal Activities

The “Summer on the Square” concert series takes place every Friday evening from June through August on the lawn of the Adair County Courthouse in downtown Kirksville. Dates and performers may change. If a concert is important to your travel dates, check the current event schedule.

The Kirksville Kiwanis Farmers’ Market offers local food and handmade goods in the Kirksville, Missouri, area on Saturdays from May through October, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Dates and hours may change, so confirm the information before your visit. The Red-Barn-Festival is a one-day juried event in downtown Kirksville featuring food, art, awards and entertainment. Dates and programming may also change.

This provides a clear distinction when choosing what to focus on during your trip: museums and audio tours emphasize history, trails are for hiking and cycling, and the park centers on scenery and water-based activities. Concerts, the market and the festival, by contrast, take place on specific dates or during particular periods. If an event is the reason for your trip, check the dates in advance; if you’re mainly planning to visit museums or use trails, their respective themes can help guide your choices.

Discover more destinations: Millard.

See the main travel overview: Adair County.