Marlborough MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Marlborough, Missouri.
1. Rischbeiter's Garage
HISTORIC ROUTE 66 LANDMARK
Rischbeiter's Garage is a one-story, flat roof, concrete block building with a 3-bay garage and office built around 1941 along Route 66. The garage serves as a reminder of the golden age of automobile travel along the historic Route 66. Visitors can see this well-preserved structure that was once a bustling service station for travelers on the Mother Road.
2. Coral Court Motel Site
ROUTE 66 MOTEL HISTORY
The Coral Court Motel site marks where one of Route 66's most famous motor courts once stood in Marlborough. Though the motel is now gone, the location is significant for Route 66 enthusiasts and history buffs exploring the historic highway. The Coral Court was known for its distinctive Art Deco style and its place in the cultural history of the Mother Road.
3. Wayside Motel
VINTAGE ROUTE 66 LODGING
The Wayside Motel is one of the few remaining vintage motels from Route 66's heyday in the Marlborough area. This historic lodging establishment represents the roadside architecture that developed to serve travelers along America's most famous highway. The motel offers visitors a tangible connection to the mid-20th century road trip experience.
4. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
PREMIER OPERA VENUE
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is a renowned opera company offering world-class performances near the Marlborough area. The theater is known for its festival season featuring classic and contemporary operas performed in English by rising stars and established artists. Visitors can enjoy exceptional productions in an intimate theater setting with a full orchestra.
5. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANY
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a professional theater company producing high-quality dramatic productions in the greater St. Louis area. The theater presents a diverse selection of plays ranging from classics to contemporary works in its main stage and studio theater spaces. Theater enthusiasts visiting the Marlborough region can experience thought-provoking performances by talented actors in this cultural institution.
6. Oakland House Museum
HISTORIC MANSION MUSEUM
The Oakland House Museum is a historic mansion preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of the St. Louis area. Visitors can tour the beautifully maintained period rooms featuring authentic furnishings and decorative arts from a bygone era. The museum offers insights into the lifestyle of wealthy St. Louis residents and the social history of the region.
7. Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIC SITE
The Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site preserves White Haven, the 19th-century farm home of the 18th U.S. President. The site includes the restored main house, outbuildings, and grounds where Grant lived with his wife Julia before the Civil War. Visitors can tour the property and learn about Grant's life before his military and political career through exhibits and ranger-led programs.
8. Ozark National Scenic Riverways
NATURAL RIVER PRESERVE
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first nationally protected river system, preserving the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers. The park features clear spring-fed waters, caves, historic mills, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation including canoeing, fishing, and hiking. Visitors can explore historic landmarks like Alley Mill and Welch Hospital, which showcase Missouri's cultural heritage.
9. Alley Mill
HISTORIC GRISTMILL SITE
Alley Mill is a historic red gristmill located within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, serving as an iconic symbol of Missouri's past. The mill, built in 1894, once ground wheat and corn for local farmers and now stands as a preserved testament to early industrial technology. Visitors can tour the restored mill, see the water-powered turbine, and learn about the importance of mills to rural communities in the late 19th century.
10. Welch Hospital
HISTORIC MEDICAL FACILITY
Welch Hospital is a preserved historic medical facility that once served the rural communities of southern Missouri. The hospital represents an important chapter in the development of healthcare in the Ozarks region during the early 20th century. Today, visitors can explore the building and learn about early medical practices and the challenges of providing healthcare in rural America.
11. La Casa Grande Motel
CLASSIC ROUTE 66 ACCOMMODATION
La Casa Grande Motel is a historic lodging establishment that once welcomed travelers along the legendary Route 66 through Marlborough. The motel exemplifies the distinctive roadside architecture that developed to serve America's growing automobile culture in the mid-20th century. Though changed over the years, the site remains important for Route 66 enthusiasts tracing the original alignment of the Mother Road.
12. Chippewa Motel
ROUTE 66 HERITAGE SITE
The Chippewa Motel was once a popular stopover for travelers journeying along Route 66 through Marlborough. The motel represents the roadside culture that flourished during America's automobile age, when families took to the highways for leisure travel. Today, the site serves as a reminder of the economic and cultural impact Route 66 had on small communities across America.
13. Duplex Motel
HISTORIC HIGHWAY LODGING
The Duplex Motel was a distinctive lodging option along Route 66 in Marlborough, catering to motorists during the highway's heyday. The motel's unique design reflected the evolving architecture of roadside accommodations as automobile tourism grew in popularity. While the landscape of Route 66 has changed significantly over the decades, locations like this help preserve the memory of America's most famous highway.
14. Crystal Motel Site
FORMER ROUTE 66 BUSINESS
The Crystal Motel site marks where a once-thriving Route 66 business stood in Marlborough from 1946 until around 1990. Built between US 66 and the railroad tracks, the motel served countless travelers exploring America's most famous highway during the golden age of road trips. Though now replaced by a medical supply store, the location remains significant for Route 66 historians documenting the changing landscape of the historic corridor.
15. Blue Star Museums Program Sites
MILITARY FAMILY CULTURAL PROGRAM
The Blue Star Museums program offers free admission to participating museums for active-duty military personnel and their families in the greater St. Louis area near Marlborough. This nationwide program represents a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense. Visitors with military ID can explore art, history, science, and children's museums at no cost during the summer months.