Missouri is the crossroads of the American heartland, where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers converge and eastern woodlands give way to western plains. From the gleaming Gateway Arch in St. Louis to the Ozark Mountains' ancient caves and the world-class barbecue pits of Kansas City, Missouri packs an extraordinary range of landscapes, history, and culture into a single state.
Historical sites
Places where Missouri's past comes alive.
Gateway Arch National Park
Where: St. Louis
Admission: Adult: $10 (Museum of Westward Expansion only); $15 (tram ride) | Child: $7 / $11
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
Where: Independence
Admission: Adult: $13 | Child: $5 (ages 6–15)
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
Where: Hannibal
Admission: Adult: $14 | Child: $8
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Where: Republic (Springfield area)
Admission: Adult: $10 | Child: Free (15 and under)
Jefferson Landing State Historic Site
Where: Jefferson City
Admission: Adult: Free (museums inside charge $2–5) | Child: Free
Missouri State Capitol
Where: Jefferson City
Admission: Adult: Free (tours available) | Child: Free
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
Where: St. Louis
Admission: Adult: $4 | Child: $2
Meramec Caverns
Where: Sullivan
Admission: Adult: $23 | Child: $11.50