Novelty MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Novelty, Missouri.
1. The Gateway Arch
ICON OF THE WEST
The Gateway Arch is Missouri's most iconic landmark standing 630 feet tall on the banks of the Mississippi River. This stainless steel monument commemorates the westward expansion of the United States and serves as a symbol of St. Louis. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top for panoramic views of the city and river.
2. Titanic Museum
HISTORIC MARITIME TRAGEDY
The Titanic Museum in Branson offers an immersive experience into the tragic 1912 sinking of the famous ocean liner. The museum is housed in a half-scale replica of the ship and features over 400 artifacts from the vessel and its passengers. Visitors receive boarding passes of actual passengers and discover their fates in the memorial room at the end of the tour.
3. Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum
LITERARY LEGEND'S BEGINNINGS
Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum preserves the early life of America's beloved author Samuel Clemens in Hannibal. The complex includes six historic buildings and two museums featuring exhibits on Missouri's most famous writer and his works. Visitors can see the actual fence that inspired the famous whitewashing scene from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
4. World's Largest Ball of Twine
QUIRKY RECORD HOLDER
The World's Largest Ball of Twine stands over 13 feet tall and 41 feet in circumference inside Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum. This massive attraction was created by a retired brick mason who earned a Guinness World Record for his creation in 1993. Visitors can marvel at this unusual achievement while exploring hundreds of other strange artifacts in the museum.
5. Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins
EUROPEAN CASTLE IN OZARKS
Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins is the remains of a European-style castle built by a Kansas City businessman in 1905. The structure later became a hotel in the 1940s before being destroyed by fire, leaving behind the stunning stone ruins visible today. The castle ruins sit atop massive bluffs offering panoramic views of Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring.
6. BoatHenge
MYSTERIOUS NAUTICAL MONUMENT
BoatHenge is a strange art installation of unknown origin featuring six boats arranged to mirror England's Stonehenge. Located along the Katy Trail between Rocheport and Jefferson City, this curious landmark reportedly appeared after the floods of 1993 and 1995. The mysterious installation can be easily spotted near Plowboy Bend and has become an intriguing landmark for trail users.
7. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
MAGNIFICENT MOSAIC TREASURY
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis houses one of the largest mosaic collections in the Western Hemisphere with 41.5 million pieces covering 83,000 square feet. The Roman Catholic cathedral features Byzantine and Romanesque architecture and took nearly 80 years to complete. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about the religious significance and artistic details of this impressive structure.
8. Grant's Farm
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIC ESTATE
Grant's Farm is a 281-acre historic farm and animal preserve once owned by President Ulysses S. Grant. The property is now home to more than 900 animals representing over 100 different species, including the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Visitors can enjoy tram tours, animal feeding opportunities, and historic buildings including the cabin hand-built by Grant himself.
9. Sliced Bread Mural
CELEBRATING CULINARY INNOVATION
The Sliced Bread Mural commemorates Chillicothe as the birthplace of commercially sliced bread, first sold on July 7, 1928. This colorful wall painting depicts the historic innovation that revolutionized American food consumption habits. Visitors can learn more about this surprisingly significant culinary advancement at the nearby Sliced Bread Innovation Center.
10. Jim the Wonder Dog Memorial
LEGENDARY CANINE TRIBUTE
Jim the Wonder Dog Memorial honors a Llewellin setter who gained fame in the 1930s for his seemingly psychic abilities to understand multiple languages and predict future events. The memorial garden features a bronze statue of Jim and informational displays about his remarkable abilities that attracted national attention. Visitors can learn about Jim's uncanny talents, including his ability to identify cars by make, color, and license plate numbers.
11. Walt Disney Dreaming Tree
ANIMATION PIONEER'S INSPIRATION
Walt Disney Dreaming Tree marks the spot where young Walt would sit and dream under the branches of a cottonwood tree on his family farm. Though the original tree died in 2015, a sapling grown from its seed now stands in its place near a replica of Disney's childhood barn. Visitors can explore the site that influenced Disney's creative vision and early artistic development.
12. Lewis and Clark Monument
HISTORIC EXPEDITION MEMORIAL
The Lewis and Clark Monument features larger-than-life bronze statues honoring the famous explorers who met in St. Charles in 1804 before embarking on their westward expedition. Located in Frontier Park along the Missouri Riverfront, the monument commemorates this pivotal moment in American exploration history. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of these pioneering adventurers who gathered their final supplies in this location, then known as Les Petites Cotes.
13. Graham Cave State Park
ANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
Graham Cave State Park preserves an archaeological site where artifacts dating back more than 10,000 years have been discovered. The natural shelter was home to Native Americans during the Dalton and Archaic periods, providing valuable insights into prehistoric life. Visitors can enter the mouth of the cave and view exhibits explaining the cultural and natural significance of this remarkable site.
14. Velvet Freeze Giant Ice Cream Cone
SWEET ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
The Velvet Freeze Giant Ice Cream Cone is an oversized sculpture standing prominently in front of the elementary school in Mesnier. This quirky roadside attraction pays homage to the popular Velvet Freeze ice cream store that once operated in the area. Visitors frequently stop to take photos with this whimsical monument to frozen treats.
15. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
WORLD-CLASS ART COLLECTION
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art houses a comprehensive collection spanning more than 5,000 years of human creativity from ancient to contemporary works. The museum is particularly renowned for its extensive Asian art collection, European paintings, and the outdoor sculpture park featuring giant shuttlecocks. Visitors can enjoy free admission to explore this cultural treasure that contains more than 42,000 works of art.