Herculaneum MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Herculaneum, Missouri.
1. Gateway Arch National Park
ICONIC AMERICAN MONUMENT
Gateway Arch National Park is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States, featuring the 630-foot stainless steel arch designed by architect Eero Saarinen. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top of the arch for panoramic views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. The park also includes the Museum at the Gateway Arch which details the history of westward expansion in America.
2. Forest Park
URBAN OASIS
Forest Park is a magnificent 1,326-acre public park that hosted the 1904 World's Fair and Olympic Games. The park houses several major cultural institutions including the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Science Center. Visitors can also enjoy boating on the park's lakes, playing golf, or simply strolling through the beautifully landscaped grounds.
3. Missouri Botanical Garden
LUSH HORTICULTURAL PARADISE
The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States, founded in 1859. It features 79 acres of horticultural displays, including a 14-acre Japanese garden, a tropical rainforest inside the Climatron geodesic dome, and the Linnean House, the oldest continuously operating public greenhouse west of the Mississippi River. The garden hosts seasonal events throughout the year, including a lantern festival, butterfly house, and holiday light displays.
4. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN CITY
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site preserves the remains of the largest pre-Columbian Native American city north of Mexico, which flourished around 1050-1350 CE. The site features Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas, standing 100 feet tall and covering 14 acres. Visitors can explore the interpretive center to learn about the sophisticated Mississippian culture that built this vast urban center with astronomical alignments, plazas, and residential areas.
5. Gov. Daniel Dunklin's Grave State Historic Site
HISTORIC GUBERNATORIAL MEMORIAL
Gov. Daniel Dunklin's Grave State Historic Site marks the final resting place of Missouri's fifth governor who served from 1832 to 1836. The site features a wheelchair-accessible path leading to the gravesite with the mighty Mississippi River providing a dramatic backdrop. The memorial includes the governor's gravestone surrounded by American flags, honoring his contributions to Missouri's early statehood.
6. Kade's Playground
INCLUSIVE PLAY SPACE
Kade's Playground is a specially designed inclusive playground that allows children of all abilities to play together. The playground features accessible equipment, sensory-rich activities, and areas for both active and quiet play. Named in honor of a local child, this community-built space has become a beloved destination for families throughout Jefferson County.
7. Joachim Creek Historic Area
TOWN'S HISTORIC BEGINNING
Joachim Creek Historic Area marks the location where Moses Austin and Samuel Hammond laid out the town of Herculaneum in 1808 at the mouth of Joachim Creek. This area served as the original shipping point for lead smelted at mines in Jefferson and Washington Counties. Visitors can appreciate the historical significance of this waterway that played a crucial role in the early economic development of the region.
8. Shot Tower Historic Site
EARLY INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
The Shot Tower Historic Site commemorates the location of three shot towers that were constructed on the bluffs of Herculaneum by 1813. These towers were designed for producing shot balls by dropping molten lead through copper sieves, with the balls then caught in water basins below. This site represents an important piece of early American industrial history and Herculaneum's significant role in lead production during the 19th century.
9. Mastodon State Historic Site
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE
Mastodon State Historic Site contains the Kimmswick Bone Bed, one of the most important archaeological and paleontological sites in Missouri. The museum displays artifacts from the Clovis culture, whose stone tools were found among the bones of American mastodons, providing evidence that humans and these extinct animals coexisted. Visitors can explore hiking trails through the 425-acre property, which wind through woodlands, glades, and meadows where these prehistoric creatures once roamed.
10. Jefferson College
HISTORIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Jefferson College is a historic public community college that has served the educational needs of Jefferson County since 1963. The college's historic buildings and beautiful campus provide both educational opportunities and community gathering spaces. Visitors can enjoy cultural events, theatrical performances, and athletic competitions hosted throughout the year at this important regional institution.
11. Hermannhof Winery
HISTORIC GERMAN VINEYARD
Hermannhof Winery is housed in a ten stone cellars and brick superstructure dating to 1852, representing Missouri's rich German winemaking heritage. The winery offers award-winning wines produced in the tradition of the early German settlers who recognized the Missouri River Valley's potential for viticulture. Visitors can tour the historic cellars, enjoy tastings in the charming tasting room, and participate in seasonal festivals celebrating the region's wine culture.
12. Stone Hill Winery
MISSOURI'S OLDEST WINERY
Stone Hill Winery was established in 1847 and grew to be the second largest winery in the United States before Prohibition. The historic arched underground cellars are the largest in North America and provide a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century winemaking techniques. Visitors can tour the facilities, sample award-winning wines in the tasting room, and dine at the on-site Vintage Restaurant housed in the winery's original stable.
13. Hermann Farm
LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM
Hermann Farm offers visitors an immersive experience of 19th-century German-American farm life in Missouri. The living history museum features the restored 1850s home of George Husmann, a pivotal figure in saving the French wine industry during the phylloxera epidemic. Visitors can explore historic buildings, interact with heritage livestock, and learn about traditional farming and winemaking practices that shaped the region's cultural identity.
14. Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows
SACRED RELIGIOUS SITE
The Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows is a historic Catholic pilgrimage site established in the 1850s by German immigrants. The shrine complex includes a beautiful stone church built in 1910, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, and a replica of the Lourdes Grotto. Pilgrims and visitors come to experience the peaceful grounds, attend Mass in the historic church, and participate in the annual pilgrimage held each October.
15. Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site
RARE HISTORIC BRIDGE
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge is one of only four remaining covered bridges in Missouri, built in 1872 as part of an important transportation link. The 74-foot long bridge features a Howe-truss design and was painstakingly reconstructed after being destroyed by a flood in 1886. Visitors can walk through this picturesque red bridge, picnic in the surrounding park, and enjoy the peaceful setting along Sandy Creek.