When thinking of unique places to visit in Missouri, take a turn off the more traveled road and discover some places you just won’t see anywhere else. Some creepy, some historical, some just plain odd, cross each one of these unique places in Missouri off your must-see checklist and you won’t be disappointed.
- World’s Largest Rocking Chair, Cuba
Flickr/ J. Stephen Conn This rocking chair is over 42 feet tall and was built in 2008 for the sole purpose of breaking the Guinness World Record for such a thing. It used to sit on a rock but that was considered dangerous and scary to the tourists, so it is now strongly secured to the ground. You can only sit in it one day per year, on “Picture on Rocker Day.” It is located near, and was commissioned by, the Route 66 Fanning Outpost. The Worlds 2nd largest rocker, 5957 State Hwy ZZ, Cuba, MO 65453, USA
- Jesse James Home, St. Joseph
Flickr/ JeromeG111
Flickr/ JeromeG111 Now known as the Jesse James Home, this unassuming little home became famous when Robert Ford shot and killed Jesse James within its walls. You can even see the hole where the bullet hit the wall. Jesse James Home Museum, 1201 S 12th St, St Joseph, MO 64503, USA
- Bonne Terre Mines, Bonne Terre
Flickr/ Melissa Once a lead mine, and now one of the largest fresh water dive locations in the world, the Bonne Terre Mines are also referred to as the “Billion Gallon Lake.” It’s not just for divers, however; there are also walking and boat tours. Mineshaft Road, Mineshaft Rd, Bonne Terre, MO 63628, USA
- Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins, Camdenton
Flickr/ Granger Meador Located in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, this once grand castle began construction in 1905 by a wealthy businessman from Kansas City named Robert Snyder. The project was passed on to Robert’s sons after his death in a car accident in 1906. The castle was finally completed in 1920 and one of the sons moved in only to eventually lose all his money due to lawsuits over land rights. Later, the castle was opened as a hotel and lodge, but sadly, in 1942, it was completely destroyed by fire. Now the park maintains the Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins as one of its attractions and people come from all over to wander the once grand castle. Ha Ha Tonka State Park, 1491 Missouri D, Camdenton, MO 65020, USA
- Giant Book Shelf, Kansas City Library, Kansas City
Flickr/ Jonathan Moreau Located in downtown Missouri, this facade in front of the parking garage near the Kansas City Library appears to be a giant shelf filled with books. When the structure was created, locals were asked to vote on which titles would be included. Each book stands 25 feet high and nine eet wide. Library District, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
- Devil’s Icebox, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia
Flickr/ CANFR Editor’s Note: Please note that tours of Devil’s Icebox are currently not being offered.
What a great place to visit during the hot days of summer! This cave is called the Devil’s Icebox because it stays a cool 56 degrees all year. For the brave or adventurous, tours are available during select months throughout the year. A word of warning if considering touring this unique site: be prepared to get dirty and use your muscles. For more information, check out the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park website. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 5901 South Highway 163, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
- World’s Largest Shuttlecocks, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City
Wikipedia/ Nelson Art Gallery A total of four 18-foot shuttlecocks (three on one side and one on the other) adorn the grounds of the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Created in 1994 by husband and wife Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen, the structures are made of aluminum and fiberglass. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
- Glore Psychiatric Museum, St. Joseph
Flickr/ Missouri Division of Tourism
Flickr/ Kelly Garbato Ever wondered about the history of psychiatric hospitals and their methods? Glore Psychiatric Museum is just the place to find out. It has replicas of equipment from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Creepy. Glore Psychiatric Museum, 3406 Frederick Ave, St Joseph, MO 64506, USA
- Leila’s Hair Museum, Independence
Flickr/ Missouri Division of Tourism Please note, Leila’s Hair Museum has permanently closed. The displays at Leila’s Hair Museum are wreaths and pieces of jewelry made from actual human hair, some dating back to the 17th century!
- City Museum, St. Louis
Flickr/ Thomas Hawk
Flickr/ Daniel Wabyick The City Museum in St. Louis is difficult to describe. It’s not much like a museum at all, really, but rather some crazy 600,000 square feet funhouse, complete with a 10-story spiral slide, caves, theme rooms, and exhibits, climbing structures inside and out, and oh, a bus hanging off the roof. You really have to see it to believe such a place exists. You definitely won’t be bored. Find out more at www.citymuseum.org. City Museum, 750 N 16th St, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
- World’s Largest Ball of Twine, Branson
Flickr/ Heather Paul Housed at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Branson, you will find the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. The building was actually built around the ball of twine, which Ripley’s bought and moved there in 1993. 3326 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
- The Awakening - The Buried Giant, Chesterfield
Flickr/ Jennifer Morrow The Awakening is utterly unique. Seriously, where else but Chesterfield can you see a 70-foot giant clawing its way out of the ground?! 16100 Main Cir Dr, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
- World’s Largest Fork, Springfield
Flickr/ Ayleen Gaspar Thirty-five feet tall! 2215 W Chesterfield St, Springfield, MO 65807, USA
- Jim the Wonder Dog, Memorial Park, Marshall
Flickr/ Franklin B. Thompson There was once a dog named Jim who had magical powers. Whether you believe that or not, there is a park memorializing him in Marshall. 101 N Lafayette Ave, Marshall, MO 65340, USA
- Wax Museum of St. Louis
http://stlwaxmuseum.com/photos.html Madame Tussaud’s this is not. Also known as Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum, this museum is like nothing you have seen before. Taking up the entire three-story building with even more to see in the basement and sub-basement (the creepy stuff is down there), there is plenty to see and experience. Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum, 720 N 2nd St, St. Louis, MO 63102, USA
Ever been to any of the cool places in Missouri mentioned above? If so, which ones and what’d you think? What are some other unique places to visit in Missouri that you have heard of or seen? Share them with us, and they might make our next list.
Flickr/ J. Stephen Conn
This rocking chair is over 42 feet tall and was built in 2008 for the sole purpose of breaking the Guinness World Record for such a thing. It used to sit on a rock but that was considered dangerous and scary to the tourists, so it is now strongly secured to the ground. You can only sit in it one day per year, on “Picture on Rocker Day.” It is located near, and was commissioned by, the Route 66 Fanning Outpost.
The Worlds 2nd largest rocker, 5957 State Hwy ZZ, Cuba, MO 65453, USA
Flickr/ JeromeG111
Now known as the Jesse James Home, this unassuming little home became famous when Robert Ford shot and killed Jesse James within its walls. You can even see the hole where the bullet hit the wall.
Jesse James Home Museum, 1201 S 12th St, St Joseph, MO 64503, USA
Flickr/ Melissa
Once a lead mine, and now one of the largest fresh water dive locations in the world, the Bonne Terre Mines are also referred to as the “Billion Gallon Lake.” It’s not just for divers, however; there are also walking and boat tours.
Mineshaft Road, Mineshaft Rd, Bonne Terre, MO 63628, USA
Flickr/ Granger Meador
Located in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, this once grand castle began construction in 1905 by a wealthy businessman from Kansas City named Robert Snyder. The project was passed on to Robert’s sons after his death in a car accident in 1906. The castle was finally completed in 1920 and one of the sons moved in only to eventually lose all his money due to lawsuits over land rights. Later, the castle was opened as a hotel and lodge, but sadly, in 1942, it was completely destroyed by fire. Now the park maintains the Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins as one of its attractions and people come from all over to wander the once grand castle.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park, 1491 Missouri D, Camdenton, MO 65020, USA
Flickr/ Jonathan Moreau
Located in downtown Missouri, this facade in front of the parking garage near the Kansas City Library appears to be a giant shelf filled with books. When the structure was created, locals were asked to vote on which titles would be included. Each book stands 25 feet high and nine eet wide.
Library District, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
Flickr/ CANFR
Editor’s Note: Please note that tours of Devil’s Icebox are currently not being offered.
What a great place to visit during the hot days of summer! This cave is called the Devil’s Icebox because it stays a cool 56 degrees all year. For the brave or adventurous, tours are available during select months throughout the year. A word of warning if considering touring this unique site: be prepared to get dirty and use your muscles. For more information, check out the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park website.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 5901 South Highway 163, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
Wikipedia/ Nelson Art Gallery
A total of four 18-foot shuttlecocks (three on one side and one on the other) adorn the grounds of the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Created in 1994 by husband and wife Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen, the structures are made of aluminum and fiberglass.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA
Flickr/ Missouri Division of Tourism
Flickr/ Kelly Garbato
Ever wondered about the history of psychiatric hospitals and their methods? Glore Psychiatric Museum is just the place to find out. It has replicas of equipment from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Creepy.
Glore Psychiatric Museum, 3406 Frederick Ave, St Joseph, MO 64506, USA
Please note, Leila’s Hair Museum has permanently closed. The displays at Leila’s Hair Museum are wreaths and pieces of jewelry made from actual human hair, some dating back to the 17th century!
Flickr/ Thomas Hawk
Flickr/ Daniel Wabyick
The City Museum in St. Louis is difficult to describe. It’s not much like a museum at all, really, but rather some crazy 600,000 square feet funhouse, complete with a 10-story spiral slide, caves, theme rooms, and exhibits, climbing structures inside and out, and oh, a bus hanging off the roof. You really have to see it to believe such a place exists. You definitely won’t be bored. Find out more at www.citymuseum.org.
City Museum, 750 N 16th St, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
Flickr/ Heather Paul
Housed at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Branson, you will find the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. The building was actually built around the ball of twine, which Ripley’s bought and moved there in 1993.
3326 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Flickr/ Jennifer Morrow
The Awakening is utterly unique. Seriously, where else but Chesterfield can you see a 70-foot giant clawing its way out of the ground?!
16100 Main Cir Dr, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
Flickr/ Ayleen Gaspar
Thirty-five feet tall!
2215 W Chesterfield St, Springfield, MO 65807, USA
Flickr/ Franklin B. Thompson
There was once a dog named Jim who had magical powers. Whether you believe that or not, there is a park memorializing him in Marshall.
101 N Lafayette Ave, Marshall, MO 65340, USA
http://stlwaxmuseum.com/photos.html
Madame Tussaud’s this is not. Also known as Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum, this museum is like nothing you have seen before. Taking up the entire three-story building with even more to see in the basement and sub-basement (the creepy stuff is down there), there is plenty to see and experience.
Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum, 720 N 2nd St, St. Louis, MO 63102, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique Places To Visit In Missouri October 07, 2022 Daniella DiRienzo What are the best little known attractions in Missouri? The unique things to do in Missouri don’t end with those mentioned above. There are lots of unique sites and hidden attractions in Missouri, and Alley Spring is one of them. Brimming with history and scenic beauty, Alley Spring boasts vibrant turquoise waters and is home to a grist mill that dates back to the 1800s. It’s one of the Ozarks’ most charming landmarks and is a great visit for all ages. The grist mill operates seasonally and is open for tours during select months throughout the year. Turtle Playground is also among the state’s best lesser-known attractions. Located in St. Louis, the playground is actually part of Forest Park. True to its name, the playground is home to several giant turtles, which kids are encouraged to climb on. What are the oldest attractions in Missouri? As far as the oldest attractions in Missouri go, the Mastodon State Historic Site is hard to beat. The site is centered around the Kimmswick Bone Bed, an important archaeological and paleontological site, which, at over 10,000 years old, is one of the oldest known archaeological sites in the state. Today, the site is open to the public and includes a museum, allowing visitors to learn all about the landmark discovery. A great place to begin any visit to the site, the museum features ancient artifacts and fossils, a replica of a mastodon skeleton, and other exhibits. The grounds also include several hiking trails, one of which leads to the actual site where bones and artifacts were discovered. Picnic sites, a picnic shelter, a playground, and a wildflower garden are also among the site’s amenities.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique Places To Visit In Missouri
October 07, 2022
Daniella DiRienzo
What are the best little known attractions in Missouri? The unique things to do in Missouri don’t end with those mentioned above. There are lots of unique sites and hidden attractions in Missouri, and Alley Spring is one of them. Brimming with history and scenic beauty, Alley Spring boasts vibrant turquoise waters and is home to a grist mill that dates back to the 1800s. It’s one of the Ozarks’ most charming landmarks and is a great visit for all ages. The grist mill operates seasonally and is open for tours during select months throughout the year. Turtle Playground is also among the state’s best lesser-known attractions. Located in St. Louis, the playground is actually part of Forest Park. True to its name, the playground is home to several giant turtles, which kids are encouraged to climb on. What are the oldest attractions in Missouri? As far as the oldest attractions in Missouri go, the Mastodon State Historic Site is hard to beat. The site is centered around the Kimmswick Bone Bed, an important archaeological and paleontological site, which, at over 10,000 years old, is one of the oldest known archaeological sites in the state. Today, the site is open to the public and includes a museum, allowing visitors to learn all about the landmark discovery. A great place to begin any visit to the site, the museum features ancient artifacts and fossils, a replica of a mastodon skeleton, and other exhibits. The grounds also include several hiking trails, one of which leads to the actual site where bones and artifacts were discovered. Picnic sites, a picnic shelter, a playground, and a wildflower garden are also among the site’s amenities.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The unique things to do in Missouri don’t end with those mentioned above. There are lots of unique sites and hidden attractions in Missouri, and Alley Spring is one of them. Brimming with history and scenic beauty, Alley Spring boasts vibrant turquoise waters and is home to a grist mill that dates back to the 1800s. It’s one of the Ozarks’ most charming landmarks and is a great visit for all ages. The grist mill operates seasonally and is open for tours during select months throughout the year. Turtle Playground is also among the state’s best lesser-known attractions. Located in St. Louis, the playground is actually part of Forest Park. True to its name, the playground is home to several giant turtles, which kids are encouraged to climb on.
What are the oldest attractions in Missouri?
As far as the oldest attractions in Missouri go, the Mastodon State Historic Site is hard to beat. The site is centered around the Kimmswick Bone Bed, an important archaeological and paleontological site, which, at over 10,000 years old, is one of the oldest known archaeological sites in the state. Today, the site is open to the public and includes a museum, allowing visitors to learn all about the landmark discovery. A great place to begin any visit to the site, the museum features ancient artifacts and fossils, a replica of a mastodon skeleton, and other exhibits. The grounds also include several hiking trails, one of which leads to the actual site where bones and artifacts were discovered. Picnic sites, a picnic shelter, a playground, and a wildflower garden are also among the site’s amenities.
