Here Are 10 Awesome Things You Can Do in Missouri…Without Opening Your Wallet
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Stephanie Butler
Author
There are times when you feel like getting out of the house and doing something but don’t want to spend a lot of money. Sure, you could go for a walk or bike ride or visit a park, but there are actually other places you can go that won’t cost you a thing. Here are a few really great suggestions in Missouri, and although many of them accept donations, admission for all of these is FREE.
Located at 206 S. Locust Street in Linn Creek, in a 1931 former schoolhouse, the Camden County Museum is open from March through October. They feature exhibits focusing on tools, clothing, furniture, firearms, Civil War Memorabilia, and American Indian relics. Besides the exhibits, they also offer genealogy services, historic journals and publications, and guided tours available by appointment. For more information, visit their website at Camden County Museum.
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Located in Forest Park at 1 Fine Arts Drive in St. Louis, the museum features over 30,000 works of art with a large number of featured exhibitions. In addition, they have a research library, four conservation labs, and special events and community outreach programs. They reside in the only building remaining from the 1904 World’s Fair, and also have a gift and souvenir shop. For more information, visit St. Louis Art Museum.
Visit and learn about nature in the heart of the city. Located at 4750 Troost Avenue near the banks of Brush Creek in Kauffman Legacy Park, this conservation area features ten acres of gardens, wetlands, walkways and wildlife. In addition, they host many educational programs, and provide the Missouri Outdoor Nature Shop, a place to get hunting and fishing permits, and obtain educational materials. For more information, you can visit their website at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center.
Located at 118 E. Maple in Pilot Knob, this historic site preserves and interprets the battle that occurred at this location during the Civil War. Besides the open, grassy fields of battle where reenactments occur, they also feature the old Fort Davidson’s earthworks, two Confederate burial trenches and a visitor center with a narrated story of the battle and its impact on the Civil War. Visit Battle of Pilot Knob for more information.
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Located right off the square in historic Carthage at 409 S. Main Street, this gallery features art from over 30 local area artists. Framed arts, prints, jewelry, pottery, greeting cards and other gift items are available for purchase. The site is also home to local artist Koral Martin’s Fine Art Nature Photography Studio. Visit their website at Koka Art Gallery.
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This building, built in 1936 and 1937, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was created to house the bottling and distribution of Excelsior Springs Mineral Water. This Art Deco building sports the world’s longest water bar, an indoor swimming pool, Polio pool, the water department and men’s and women’s spas. Now a museum as well as city offices, you can take a self-guided walking tour and visit the on-site gift and souvenir shop. For more information, go here.
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This world renowned zoo, located on more than 90 acres in Lincoln Park, features more than 18,000 different animals, many of which are rare or endangered. Don’t miss the Penguin and Puffin Coast, McDonnel Polar Bear Point or the Sea Lion Sound Exhibit. Also on-site there is a restaurant and a gift shop. They are open year round. Visit St. Louis Zoo for more information.
This museum located at 601 Main Street in historic Weston, depicts life in Platte County from prehistoric days through World War II. The museum was founded in 1960, and is open from mid-March to mid-December. Group tours are available by appointment and may include an antebellum home and a guided driving tour of Weston. They also have a gift and souvenir shop. Visit their website at Weston Historical Museum for more information.
Stars and Stripes is a newspaper for men and women in the military, and began at this location at 17377 Stars and Stripes Way in Bloomfield in 1861. The museum focuses on the history of the publication and those who have produced it over the years. 7,000 square feet of exhibits focus on wars from the the Civil War to recent conflicts. They also offer research archives and a gift and souvenir shop. They are open all year round. For hours of operation and more, visit their website at Stars and Stripes Museum and Library.
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This museum located at 297 Main Street in Forsyth has rotating exhibits as well as a research library with county court records, pictures, yearbooks, indexed legers, newspapers clippings and local publications. The exhibits focus on the culture and history of the upper White River Region. They also have a gift shop and small bookstore. Their website can be found here, but your best bet is to follow them on Facebook for updates on current exhibits and other educational opportunities.
What are some other fun destinations in Missouri that don’t cost anything? Have you been to any of these places? Share in the comments below.
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