There is a state located right in the middle of America that boasts a city called the “Gateway To The West.” Few slogans sum up a location as well as this one.
The great state of Missouri was a border region between the relatively settled early United States east of the Mississippi and the Western territory. Because of its position between two worlds, its story is fascinating and, at times, tumultuous.
Officially admitted into the Union in 1821, the modern-day “Show-Me State” has had human inhabitants for some 12,000 years! Native people lived and thrived in the region for millennia before French settlers, and later Spanish ones, colonized the area before it became a part of the young U.S. with the signing of the Louisiana Purchase.
Because of its geographical location astride the Mississippi River, the region held vitally important routes for the Pony Express and the California, Santa Fe, and Oregon Trails.
A state that meant so much to an early nation surely has a story to tell. Thankfully, many of these stories can be heard, read, and experienced in Missouri’s four National Monuments!
George Washington Carver National Monument: A tribute to one of America’s most beloved trailblazers can be found near Diamond, Missouri. While much of his early life history is vague, George Washington Carver grew up in post-Civil War America as a quiet and studious child who tended his garden and observed the machinations of life on the farm where he grew up. He described himself as having an “inordinate desire for knowledge,” leading him to a lifetime of learning and, eventually, invention that would change the course of history. Visitors to this site are invited to learn from the many exhibits on-site to gain a deeper understanding of one of the most influential Black Americans who ever lived.
Photo Courtesy NPS
Harry S. Truman Home National Monument: Another important American figure was born and raised in Missouri, and this site in Independence gives visitors a chance to learn all about him: the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. From his humble beginnings as a lowly haberdasher in Independence, Truman would rise to the posts of U.S. senator, vice president, and then president after the death of Franklin Roosevelt. This unassuming midwesterner would change the course of history, taking America from a post-World War II world into a future as the world’s most powerful nation. There is so much to learn about the “Man from Independence,” and this monument gives visitors the chance to do just that.
Photo Courtesy Independence Missouri
Missouri State Capitol State Park: The center of Missouri’s government is also a State Park in Jefferson City. It is the third building to hold the halls of state power, with the first two lost to fires in 1837 and 1911. In addition to hosting the legislative bodies, there is a museum where visitors can learn more about the history and workings of government on the ground floor. In fact, the entire building is open to the public, and daily tours are offered to get a closer glimpse into the ins and outs of state and local government. The civically-minded adventurer must visit this park!
Photo Courtesy Missouri State Parks
Roaring River State Park: Located in the southwest Ozark Mountains, this State Park is as unique as they come and a hotspot for outdoor lovers of all kinds! The river cuts through a deep, harrowing valley, and the surrounding bluffs and canyon walls create a stunning canopy that visitors flock to by the thousands every year. Camping, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking are popular activities, but rainbow trout fishing draws anglers from all over the country annually to fish for the big one. There is something for everyone at this amazing destination!
Photo Courtesy Missouri State Parks
