Located within a stone’s throw of the missouri river and katy trail state park, and in the heart of historic st. charles, first missouri state capitol state historic site is the first seat of the state’s government. its rough hewn timbers and dark wood floors whisper the tales of the state’s first legislature. interpretive programs help visitors understand how the state’s government was formed and what life was like in the early 1800s.

The confederates under gen. sterling price may have taken the fort, but union efforts at fort davidson in the battle of pilot knob were crucial to blunting the last confederate offensive into missouri. fort davidson state historic site preserves and interprets the running battle through the arcadia valley. the site’s open, grassy fields include the fort’s old earthworks, two confederate burial trenches, and a visitor center with a narrated story of the battle and its context within the civil war.

Explore a piece of america’s military history at gen. john j. pershing boyhood home state historic site and learn about the experiences that molded a laclede county boy into one of the nation’s legendary generals. pershing and his family moved into the nine-room gothic-style house in laclede when he was six. prairie mound school, where pershing taught prior to his admission to the u.s. military academy at west point, is also on the site and includes a unique exhibit that allows visitors to pass through many of the same doorways pershing passed through on his journeys from missouri to mexico and france.

Reflect on the greatness of the mississippi river and the legacy of public schools that governor daniel dunklin left missouri at governor daniel dunklin’s grave state historic site. perched on a bluff above the river at herculaneum, the grave of missouri’s fifth governor provides a quiet place to reflect on missouri, then and now.

A walk in graham cave state park is a walk through ancient history. artifacts uncovered in graham cave revealed that people were living in the cave more than 10,000 years ago. to walk through the park’s 386 acres of trees, trails and streams – including the diverse and scenic graham caves glades natural area – is to walk in the footsteps of the hunter-gatherers who lived in the area’s caves during the ancient dalton and archaic period. visitors are allowed in the mouth of graham cave, and exhibits detail the life researchers believe early inhabitants lived. the park is a prime hiking location and its campground is perfect for get-togethers when you want to camp in a quiet place. there’s boat access to the loutre river and all the fishing you could possibly want.

Some people call grand gulf state park the “little grand canyon.” some just call it “breathtaking.” the park is one of the natural wonders of the ozarks, presenting the most spectacular collapsed cave system in the ozarks. the "grand gulf" stretches for more than a mile between 130 foot high walls. visitors can view the gulf from trails on top or from the floor where they can walk under the natural bridge, which spans 250 feet with a 75-foot high opening. there is no official trail leading to the bottom so visitors should use extreme caution when attempting to access the bottom. interpretive trails detail the formation of the gulf.

Imposing architecture and breathtaking scenery combine to make ha ha tonka state park one of missouri’s most treasured spots. located on the lake of the ozarks, the park features the stone ruins of a turn-of-the-20th-century castle built by a prominent kansas city businessman high atop a bluff. more than 15 miles of trails traverse the park, leading visitors to sinkholes, natural bridges, caves and down to the lake.

See where “the buck” started at harry s truman birthplace state historic site. visitors can view the small frame house where the future president was born, and see furnishings that reflect what a house in western missouri would have looked like during the time truman lived in the house.

Clear waters, dramatic bluffs and vibrant summer and fall colors make harry s truman state park an ideal place to vacation. located on a peninsula, the park offers a marina, ample fishing and boating opportunities, and water that’s perfect for every kind of swimmer. hiking trails, picnic areas and campsites that dot the park’s open oak woodlands, natural grasslands and lakeside areas let visitors enjoy the abundance of wildlife and recreation opportunities at this expansive park.

Hawn state park is one of the loveliest parks in a system full of lovely parks. clear, sand-bottomed streams, wild areas ripe with orchids and awe-inspiring views combine to make hawn a place that missourians treasure. geology buffs love pickle creek for the number of exposed rock types. hikers frequent the whispering pine wild area for its quiet trails with expansive views. bird watchers flock to the park for its variety of birds. and there are plenty of quiet spaces for people to get away and enjoy the outdoors.

Hunter-dawson state historic site preserves a now-vanished part of missouri: the stately bootheel mansion. filled with original pieces and furnished in the style it was in during its heydays of the 1860s-1880s, the ornate mansion provides a history lesson in every corner. in fact, most of the original furnishing purchased by amanda hunter, the house's first owner (with her husband william) are still in the house.

High above the des moines river’s floodplain, the grasses that sway back and forth in the wind beckon visitors to iliniwek village state historic site. the site is the only illinois indian village site found in missouri,  and thought to be occupied from about 1640 through the late 1670s. excavations at the site lead archaeologists to believe that perhaps 8,000 people lived in the village at the site when louis jolliet and father jacques marquette came through the area in 1673. visitors to the site can walk a short trail to learn more about the village’s inhabitants and the effect settlement had on them.

The missouri state museum is where visitors go to immerse themselves in the history of the show-me state. the museum houses an impressive collection of exhibits portraying the state's natural and cultural history. museum staff provide tours of the capitol and also manage jefferson landing state historic site, including the elizabeth rozier gallery.

The hustle and bustle of nearby providence road in columbia belie the peace and serenity of jewell cemetery state historic site. the shady tree-filled cemetery contains the grave of missouri's 22nd governor, charles hardin, along with descendents of george jewell. the most well known member of the jewell family buried in the cemetery, william jewell, died while establishing a college in liberty, mo., that bears his name.

Play in the shallows of the east fork of the black river. shoot through mother nature’s hydraulics in the shut-ins. hike a trail that will show you 1.4 billion years of geologic history. take your horse on a pretty mountain trail. johnson’s shut-ins state park is a jewel of the system, a place with something for everyone: pretty picnic areas, ozark landscapes, natural places to swim, great campsites.

Interested in a half-hour stroll or a five-day bicycle journey across most of the state? whatever you prefer, katy trail state park can be your answer. the park is the nation’s longest rails-to-trails project, stretching from the machens to clinton. there's enough variety to keep you interested with tree-shaded areas, open fields, impressive missouri river bluffs and quaint communities along the way. with frequent trailheads and information about the areas you are visiting, the katy has enough diversity, beauty and access for anyone.

Knob noster state park is a tranquil idyllic oasis mixture of prairie, open woodland and forest along both sides of a meandering creek. it’s a place for fishermen to wet a line, for mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders to get some trail time, and for families to spend quality time together. it’s also a place for aviation enthusiasts to stay in the campground and watch the b-2 spirit bombers take off and land at nearby whiteman air force base.

Lake of the ozarks state park has a little bit of something for everyone. crave water adventure? lake of the ozarks has a full complement of boating options. want a quiet place to hike or mountain bike? the park’s thousands of wooded acres have lots of places to get away from it all, with 12 trails that wind through the park. cabins and yurts make the park a welcome place for families looking to enjoy the lake but escape the hustle and bustle of some of the nearby towns. and ozark caverns – complete with its lantern-light cave tour – presents an unforgettable experience.

A place to sleep under the stars. a place to fish. a place to hike, to mountain bike, to backpack, to camp. lake wappapello has a little something for everyone. blue waters and abundant fish make the lake ideal for fisherman who want to fish for crappie, catfish and bass. miles of trails throughout the park offer great scenery and picturesque views.

The lewis and clark expedition headed west in 1804 and encountered a lake that william clark described as “full of geese & goslings.” today, that lake is lewis and clark lake, which is bordered by lewis and clark state park. the park’s broad open spaces and easy water access make it a favorite for families who take advantage of the boat ramp and swimming beach. bird watchers come to lewis and clark to watch geese, great blue herons and snowy egrets flock to the oxbow lake.

Locust creek covered bridge, built in 1868, once housed the nation's first transcontinental road, route 8. today, it is the longest of missouri's four remaining bridges measuring 151 feet. the bridge was built out of white pine using the howe-truss system, named for william howe, who patented the design in 1840. the essential features of the design were its use of vertical iron rods to draw the diagonal wooden members tight against the top and bottom of the bridge. the bridge features arched entrances with ramps sloping away from both ends. 

Looking for a place to get a watersports fix? long branch state park’s three boat ramps provide access to sprawling and picturesque long branch lake. want to get some fishing in? the park offers some of the best bass fishing in northern missouri and its swimming beach a is a favorite for families. more than 80 campsites make the park a perfect place for overnight stays. and the park’s native prairie offers peaceful hiking opportunities.

Nothing says “missouri literature” like mark twain. and nothing says “mark twain was here” like the state historic site that bears his name. mark twain birthplace state historic site has the two-room rented cabin samuel clemens – twain’s real name – was born in, first editions of many of the author’s works, a handwritten manuscript of the adventures of tom sawyer and many of the furnishings from twain’s connecticut home. the site also has a public reading room for personal study and research.

Nestled in the salt river hills of north-central missouri, mark twain state park gives visitors access to sprawling mark twain lake, as well as unparalleled outdoors activities. the terrain is covered by bluffs overlooking the lake and stands of oak, hickory and maple that are filled with white-tailed deer, turkey and other wildlife. numerous picnic areas, two four-lane boat ramps and more than six miles of hiking trails with lake views offer something for everyone.

Looking to take a trip to where something big happened? try mastodon state historic site. the site is the home of the kimmswick bone bed, one of the most famous and extensive pleistocene ice age deposits of fossils, including a number of bones of giant mastodons. interpretative trails and picnic sites dot the landscape and a museum tells the natural and cultural story of the clovis culture, which existed in the area between 10,000 and 14,000 years ago.