Oregon MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Oregon, Missouri.
1. Wild Bills
LOCAL BAR & CLUB
Wild Bills is a popular bar and club in Oregon, Missouri, with a 4.4 rating from visitors. The establishment offers a welcoming atmosphere for locals and travelers alike. Visitors can enjoy drinks, socialize, and experience the local nightlife culture.
2. Big Lake State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION AREA
Big Lake State Park is a recreational area near Oregon, Missouri, offering various outdoor activities. The park features a large natural lake perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming. Visitors can also enjoy camping, picnicking, and hiking trails throughout the park grounds.
3. Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
WILDLIFE VIEWING PARADISE
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is a highly-rated natural area near Oregon, Missouri, boasting a perfect 4.8 rating. The refuge serves as an important stopover for migratory birds, particularly snow geese and bald eagles during their seasonal migrations. Visitors can explore the driving tour route, hiking trails, and observation platforms to witness diverse wildlife in their natural habitat.
4. Gateway Arch
ICONIC NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Gateway Arch is a symbolic monument representing the gateway to the western United States, originally constructed between 1963-1965. Visitors can ride to the top of the 630-foot structure for spectacular views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River below. The site now operates as Gateway Arch National Park and includes a museum featuring exhibits on America's westward expansion.
5. Anheuser Busch Brewery
HISTORIC BEER PRODUCTION
Anheuser Busch Brewery is a landmark Missouri attraction offering tours of its historic brewing facilities. Visitors can learn about the beer-making process, the company's history, and see the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. The brewery experience includes sampling opportunities and a gift shop featuring branded merchandise.
6. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY PRESERVED
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site preserves the home and property where the Civil War general and 18th U.S. President lived with his wife Julia. The site features White Haven, the restored home where visitors can learn about Grant's pre-presidential life and career. Guided tours provide insights into Grant's personal history, military achievements, and the complex social dynamics of the property including its history with enslaved people.
7. Graham Cave
ANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
Graham Cave is a significant archaeological site that has yielded evidence of human occupation dating back 10,000 years. The natural cave formation served as shelter for indigenous people throughout different prehistoric periods. Today, the site is preserved as a state park where visitors can explore the cave and learn about its archaeological importance through interpretive displays.
8. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home
LITERARY LEGEND'S RESIDENCE
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home is the historic house where Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, spent his formative years. This preserved home offers insights into the environment that shaped the famous author's life and inspired classics like 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' Visitors can tour the home and several related buildings that comprise the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum complex.
9. Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
HISTORIC WESTWARD EXPANSION
The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center showcases the history of the famous 2,170-mile wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. Visitors can learn about the challenges faced by pioneers during the 19th century westward expansion through interactive exhibits and historical artifacts. The center provides educational programs that bring to life this significant chapter in American history.
10. Babler Memorial State Park
SCENIC OUTDOOR GETAWAY
Babler Memorial State Park offers an affordable and beautiful camping getaway near the St. Louis area. The park features hiking trails, picnic areas, and camping facilities amidst rolling hills and lush forests. Visitors can enjoy various outdoor recreational activities while experiencing the natural beauty of Missouri's landscape.
11. City Museum
UNIQUE INTERACTIVE PLAYGROUND
The City Museum is described as one of the most interesting museums in the country, located in St. Louis. This unique attraction features repurposed architectural and industrial objects transformed into an interactive playground for all ages. Visitors can explore caves, climb through tunnels, slide down multi-story slides, and discover artistic surprises throughout this unconventional museum.
12. Courthouse Rock
OREGON TRAIL LANDMARK
Courthouse Rock is a significant natural landmark that served as an important navigational point for pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail. This large butte was noted in almost every Oregon Trail journal as it reminded emigrants of courthouse buildings in their hometowns. Today, visitors can view this historical formation and imagine the experiences of 19th-century travelers heading west.
13. Old Courthouse
HISTORIC LEGAL LANDMARK
The Old Courthouse is a historic building where the famous Dred Scott trials were heard, marking a pivotal moment in American civil rights history. Now part of Gateway Arch National Park, this beautifully restored courthouse features exhibits on the legal proceedings that shaped the nation. Visitors can explore the building's architecture and learn about its significant role in American jurisprudence.
14. Holt County Museum
LOCAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
The Holt County Museum preserves and displays artifacts related to the history of Oregon, Missouri, and the surrounding area. The museum collection includes items from Native American cultures, pioneer settlements, and more recent local history. Visitors can gain insights into the development of the region through exhibits that highlight significant events and everyday life throughout different eras.
15. Lewis & Clark Trail
HISTORIC EXPLORATION ROUTE
The Lewis & Clark Trail passes near Oregon, Missouri, marking the historic route taken by the Corps of Discovery expedition in the early 1800s. Interpretive sites along the trail provide information about the explorers' journey up the Missouri River through this region. Visitors can follow portions of the trail to experience the landscape similar to what Lewis and Clark encountered during their groundbreaking expedition.