The Gateway Arch recalls Thomas Jefferson’s vision and St. Louis’s role in the westward expansion of the United States. Visitors can ride to the top. The Museum at the Gateway Arch is free and highlights St. Louis’s role in United States history. The monument, the view from the top and the historical context offer different ways to experience this chapter of U.S. history.
History from Different Perspectives
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home is a National Historic Landmark. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum property includes six historically significant buildings and two interactive museums. A self-guided tour explores Hannibal from Samuel Clemens’s perspective. The property thus brings together historic buildings and interactive museum exhibits with a tour that connects the view of Hannibal to Samuel Clemens.
Rivers and Trails in the Landscape
Most of Katy Trail State Park runs close alongside the Missouri River. Ozark National Scenic Riverways was the first national park area established to protect a river system. It is home to some of the country’s largest freshwater springs; various trails run along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. Visitors can swim in the recreational area at Johnson’s Shut-Ins in Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. River conditions and access rules may vary.
At Elephant Rocks State Park, the boulders take center stage: they formed from granite that is 1.5 billion years old. Missouri’s nature can therefore also be explored through its geological history, while trails follow the Current and Jacks Fork rivers and the Katy Trail shows a close connection to the Missouri River.
Cave Tours and a Scenic Drive
On tours of Onondaga Cave, trained guides lead visitors along paved, electrically lit paths. The tour is less than a mile long and lasts about one hour and 15 minutes. The informative cave tour at Lake of the Ozarks State Park lasts about an hour and covers a half-mile round trip. The approximate times and distances allow for a direct comparison of the two tours. Schedules, reservations and operating details may change; check them before your visit.
A visitor guide, updated June 27, 2025, lists a 4.9-mile driving tour with eight stops at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. This driving tour offers a different way to get oriented than the guided paths at Onondaga Cave or the timed cave tour at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
An 1880s-Themed Amusement Park
Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-themed amusement park in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. It offers more than 40 rides and attractions. The schedule includes ten festivals and events from spring through Christmas. Food options range from slow-smoked barbecue and hearty buffets to sweet treats and festival specialties. The number of attractions, event schedules and individual food offerings may change.
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