Missouri delivers it all in a convenient location. Anchored by two giant cities to the east and west, with an agricultural north and laidback south, the Show Me State is a Midwest microcosm of America.
History
Native Americans lived in Missouri for thousands of years before European settlement. The first European settlers were French-Canadians, who settled at present-day Ste. Genevieve on the Mississippi River. French, English and American interests vied for this region of fields and mountains as the area became an agricultural powerhouse and the Mississippi River towns like Hannibal and St. Louis turned into transit hubs.
French colonial architecture still resides in Ste. Genevieve.
Part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase by the United States, Missouri earned the nickname “Gateway to the West” since it served as a major departure spot for settlers heading to the West in the 1800s. St. Louis was a major supply point for decades for parties of settlers heading west. Missouri became entangled in the Civil War as a border state, remaining with the Union but suffering from intense internal pressure to join the South. To this day, Missouri’s identity is torn between the North and South (even in pronunciation of the state’s name).
St. Louis is a great city full of museums and, of course, the famous Gateway Arch.
Between the Civil War and the end of World War II, Missouri transitioned from a rural economy to a more diverse industrial-service-agricultural economy. The expansion of railroads and growth of the beef industry transformed Kansas City into a major transportation hub within the nation. During the 1970s, St. Louis and Kansas City suffered deindustrialization and loss of jobs in railroads and manufacturing, becoming poster children for “White Flight” to the suburbs. Missouri’s rural areas also declined, suffering from rampant poverty and depopulation.
Today, Missouri’s cities are coming back, and its rural centers are ready to show off their heritage.
Must-See Attractions in Missouri
St. Louis – Travel guide for a large city on the Mississippi River, famous for the Gateway Arch.
Ste. Genevieve – Travel guide for a well preserved French colonial town on the Mississippi River, south of St. Louis.
The Ozarks – A large swatch of highlands in South Missouri, known for its unique culture and landscape.
Jefferson City – State capitols are always a great time.
Hannibal – Check out the hometown of American author Mark Twain.
New Madrid – Site of a massive earthquake and aftershocks from 1811-1812.
Attractions
These are places I have been in Missouri and/or recommend to other visitors.
