In Franklin County, river landscapes and local culture go hand in hand: At Robertsville State Park, the Meramec River and Calvey Creek form the park’s boundaries; museums cover topics ranging from local history to model trains. When planning your trip, it helps to start by deciding what interests you most: activities on the water, regional history, or special collections?
River Landscapes and Nature
The Meramec River forms the northern and western boundaries of Robertsville State Park, while Calvey Creek marks its eastern boundary. In the park, you can fish in the Meramec and at a small pond near the park office. Meramec State Park offers a different way to enjoy the river: There are opportunities to camp, fish, and raft on the scenic Meramec River. Naturalists also lead cave tours; these are seasonal, so check the dates before your visit.
Whitmire Wildflower Garden offers a botanical focus. Spanning 10 acres, it showcases the beauty of Missouri’s native plants. This adds a look at local plant life to the water-based activities. The Meramec River and Calvey Creek are more than just names on a map: At Robertsville State Park, they shape the park’s boundaries, while the Meramec at the state park of the same name is also associated with fishing and rafting.
Museums Between Washington and St. Clair
In Washington, the Washington Historical Society Museum covers the history of the city and its immediate surroundings. Its exhibits span two floors, and the museum also has historical and genealogical paper records. This makes a visit especially interesting for anyone who appreciates written sources on local history as well as exhibits.
The Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe Museum focuses on a topic of its own: It presents 156 years of corn cob pipe history. Staff explain how local resident Henry Tibbe began making these pipes in Washington. The museum is located at the corner of Front Street and Cedar Street and overlooks the Missouri River. Craft history, a specific local connection, and a view of the river come together in one place.
The St. Clair Historical Museum is housed in an old fire station. One room recreates St. Clair’s Main Street as it looked around 1917. An exhibit on 100 years of local mining history covers lead, iron, barite, and copper. These themes show two different approaches to local history: a recreated streetscape and the raw materials associated with the area’s mining history.
Route 66, New Haven, and Railroad History
Route 66 runs through the center of Pacific. The Red Cedar Inn is another site connected to Historic Route 66, serving as a museum, visitor center, children’s museum, and gift shop. In New Haven, the John Colter Museum and Visitor Center features exhibits with Native American artifacts. These places focus on different topics, so choose according to what you’d like to make time for during your stay.
The Iron Spike Model Train Museum displays model trains in various scales and from different eras, and explores the history of model railroading. The children’s train experience includes books, videos, a wooden play table, and a LEGO station. Those who want to learn more about railroads can also visit a research library with 20,000 volumes on model trains, railroad history, personal accounts, and maps. The collection, hands-on area, and library cater to different interests related to the same topic.
Plan Your Trip and Accommodation
To reach Washington, Amtrak offers daily service from St. Louis and Kansas City to the city’s train station and visitor center. Schedules may change, so check your connection before traveling. When looking for a hotel in Franklin County, start by considering which topics you want to focus on during your stay: river activities, local history, Route 66, or railroads. Then narrow down your choices based on the places and attractions you plan to visit.
Discover more destinations: Sullivan, Pacific, Saint Clair, New Haven, Villa Ridge, Union, Pettis County, Linn County.
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