Missouri

New Reports

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  2020 U.S. Population Center

  Hartville, Missouri

  An engraved metal disc set into the top of a granite block marks the 2020 centermost spot.

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  2010 U.S. Population Center

  Plato, Missouri

  The 2010 U.S. Census proclaimed the population center of the nation to be in Plato. The town wasted no time erecting a monument: a silvery disk mounted on a small red granite pedestal.

Sights for Oddball Excursions

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  Titanic Museum

  Branson, Missouri

  The doomed ocean liner is taking on passengers on the main strip in Branson.

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  Precious Moments Park and Chapel

  Carthage, Missouri

  Sprawling, multi-million-dollar complex attracts fanatical collectors of the adorable angel statuettes, but all fanatics are welcome.

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  Glore Psychiatric Museum

  St. Joseph, Missouri

  A giant "human hamster" treadmill is only one of many intriguing displays in a museum that shows how hard it is to make people sane.

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  City Museum

  St. Louis, Missouri

  Insanely fun former warehouse, a 10-story 5-star wonder.

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  Space Museum and Gus Grissom Center

  Bonne Terre, Missouri

  Earl Mullins evangelizes the wonders of space exploration through his museum collection.

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  Bonne Terre Mine: Billion Gallon Lake

  Bonne Terre, Missouri

  Lead mine closed in 1962 and reopened as a tourist attraction. Features the World's Largest Subterranean Lake.

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  World's Largest Ball of Twine

  Branson, Missouri

  At Ripley's, certified by Guiness, surrounded by other oddities. But the largest?

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  Route 66 Red Rocker

  Fanning, Missouri

  Over 42 feet tall. Held the World's Largest Rocking Chair record 2008-2015. Despite its demotion to number two, it's still really big.

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  Military Museums of Fort Leonard Wood

  Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

  Three free, eclectic museums under one roof: Chemical Corps, MPs, Engineers.

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  Fantastic Caverns: Ride-Thru Cave

  Springfield, Missouri

  See Nature's mostly unspoiled beauty by jeep in "America's Ride-Thru Cave."

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  Where Jesse James Was Killed

  St. Joseph, Missouri

  Wild West fans come from far and near to "see the bullet hole" which may or may not have been made by the bullet that took a shortcut through Jesse James' head.

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  Patee House Museum

  St. Joseph, Missouri

  Is that a giant ball of string next to a horse-drawn hearse? A display of local murder weapons (including an electric drill) and an exhibit on the World's Tallest Man? Strange things await here.

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  Wax Museum of St. Louis

  St. Louis, Missouri

  Presidents, biblical figures, celebrities, and a two-basement Chamber of Horrors.

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  Jesse James Wax Museum

  Stanton, Missouri

  Jesse James wasn't really shot to death in 1882 -- he died of old age in 1951. Be damned, DNA evidence... we want the truth!

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  Meramec Caverns

  Stanton, Missouri

  You don't even reach the mouth of this popular cave until you drive past the Meramec Caverns motel and RV park, and walk past the ice cream stand and huge gift shop.

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  Uranus

  Uranus, Missouri

  In the tourist trap town of Uranus, a fudge-shop-out-of-control offers many memorable photo-ops and souvenirs, and a lot of bad Uranus puns.

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  Largest Ball of String, Not Twine

  Weston, Missouri

  A big bruiser of a sphere, 19 feet around, from a time when people mailed packages tied with thin postal string.

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  Former World's Largest Pecan

  Brunswick, Missouri

  12 feet long and six solid tons, it's a nutty claim to fame made of custom-painted concrete.

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  Ruins of Ha Ha Tonka

  Camdenton, Missouri

  Built by a Kansas City millionaire who died before it was completed. The castle was gutted by fire in 1942.

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  Big Bender

  Dittmer, Missouri

  A towing business displays a supersized junk art rendition of Futurama's sociopath robot, Bender. His head alone is a 55 gallon oil drum, to give you a sense of his scale.

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  The Hall of Waters

  Excelsior Springs, Missouri

  Elaborate Art Deco temple devoted to the curative power of mineral water. Site of the World's Longest Water Bar, high windows, futurist chandeliers, and polished terrazzo floors.

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  Hannibal: Twain Town

  Hannibal, Missouri

  Samuel Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain, grew up in Hannibal, and the town works hard to ensure that no visitor ever forgets it.

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  Buster Brown's Grave

  Hornersville, Missouri

  A big tombstone for the local little person who became famous as Buster Brown, spokesman for Buster Brown shoes.

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  Mural: Superman of Kansas City

  Kansas City, Missouri

  Michael Wheeler, senior citizen, dresses in a home-made super-suit and runs all over Kansas City.

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  Jesse James' Feather Duster of Death

  Kearney, Missouri

  Among Jesse artifacts exhibited at the James Farm is the household duster that may have contributed to his demise.