Osborn MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Osborn, Missouri.
1. Shatto Dairy
LOCAL DAIRY FARM TOUR
Shatto Dairy is a family-owned dairy farm in Osborn offering tours and fresh dairy products. Visitors can see how milk is processed from cow to bottle and sample various flavored milks and cheeses. The farm is known for its sustainable practices and distinctive glass bottle packaging.
2. Windy Wine Company
LOCAL VINEYARD EXPERIENCE
Windy Wine Company is a charming winery located in Osborn offering wine tastings and vineyard tours. Visitors can sample a variety of locally produced wines while enjoying the scenic rural Missouri landscape. The winery frequently hosts special events and provides a relaxing atmosphere for guests.
3. Grindstone Valley Winery
RUSTIC WINE TASTING
Grindstone Valley Winery offers a rustic wine-tasting experience in the heart of Osborn. The winery produces a variety of wines from locally grown grapes and offers tastings in a cozy, countryside setting. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful rural ambiance while sampling unique Missouri wines.
4. Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
MIGRATORY BIRD HAVEN
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,440-acre sanctuary near Mound City that serves as a resting and breeding ground for migratory birds. The refuge supports up to two million ducks during fall and winter seasons and upward of a million snow geese, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Visitors can explore the 10-mile auto tour, visit the educational visitor center, or hike through the unique loess hills formations.
5. Missouri Botanical Garden
HISTORIC BOTANICAL INSTITUTION
The Missouri Botanical Garden, founded in 1859, is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States. Spanning 79 acres, the garden features a diverse collection of plants, themed gardens, and historic structures. Visitors can explore the Japanese Garden, Climatron conservatory, and numerous other horticultural displays throughout the year.
6. Wallace State Park
SERENE NATURAL RETREAT
Wallace State Park is a tranquil natural retreat located near Cameron, offering hiking trails through lush woodlands and open meadows. The park features a small lake perfect for fishing and swimming, along with picnic areas and campgrounds. Nature enthusiasts can spot diverse wildlife and bird species throughout the 501-acre park.
7. Jesse James Farm and Museum
OUTLAW HISTORY SITE
The Jesse James Farm and Museum preserves the birthplace and childhood home of the notorious outlaw Jesse James. Visitors can tour the restored farmhouse where Jesse was born and raised, along with a museum displaying artifacts from his life and times. The site offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of America's most infamous historical figures and the tumultuous post-Civil War era in Missouri.
8. Watkins Mill State Park
HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
Watkins Mill State Park preserves a 19th-century woolen mill and the surrounding historic company town. The park features a perfectly preserved textile mill with its original machinery still intact, offering visitors a glimpse into America's industrial past. In addition to the historical attractions, the park offers outdoor recreation opportunities including hiking, fishing, and camping around a scenic lake.
9. Pony Express Museum
HISTORIC MAIL SERVICE
The Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph commemorates the short-lived but legendary mail service that connected the East with the West in the 1860s. Located in the original stables where the Pony Express began and ended, the museum features interactive exhibits telling the story of the brave riders who carried mail across the frontier. Visitors can experience the excitement and dangers of this pioneering communication service through artifacts, dioramas, and multimedia presentations.
10. Patee House Museum
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
The Patee House Museum is a National Historic Landmark housed in a former luxury hotel built in 1858 in St. Joseph. The museum contains two floors of exhibits including a fully functional 1860s carousel, an 1877 railroad locomotive, and numerous period rooms showing life in the 19th century. Once serving as the Pony Express headquarters and later the site where Jesse James' wife and children lived after his assassination, the building offers a rich slice of American frontier history.
11. Jesse James Home Museum
INFAMOUS ASSASSINATION SITE
The Jesse James Home Museum preserves the small house where the notorious outlaw was assassinated on April 3, 1882. Visitors can see the actual bullet hole in the wall made when Robert Ford shot Jesse James in the back of the head while he was adjusting a picture. The modest home contains exhibits about James' life, death, and legacy as one of America's most famous outlaws.
12. Remington Nature Center
INTERACTIVE WILDLIFE EDUCATION
The Remington Nature Center offers an immersive wildlife experience on the banks of the Missouri River in St. Joseph. The center features interactive exhibits including aquariums with native fish, taxidermy displays of local wildlife, and a replica of a 10,000-year-old woolly mammoth. Visitors can explore the nearby river trails and observe live animals while learning about the natural history of northwest Missouri.
13. St. Joseph Museum
REGIONAL HISTORY COLLECTION
The St. Joseph Museum showcases the rich history and culture of northwest Missouri in a beautiful 1879 mansion. Exhibits include Native American artifacts, Civil War memorabilia, and displays on local industries that shaped the region. The museum's extensive collection spans prehistoric times to the present day, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the area's diverse heritage.
14. Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
FINE ART COLLECTION
The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art houses one of the finest collections of American art in the Midwest within a beautiful Colonial Revival mansion in St. Joseph. The museum's permanent collection spans from the 18th century to contemporary works, with particular strengths in colonial portraiture and 19th-century landscapes. Rotating special exhibitions, educational programs, and community events make this a cultural center for northwest Missouri.
15. Glore Psychiatric Museum
MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY
The Glore Psychiatric Museum chronicles the 130-year history of the former St. Joseph State Hospital and the evolution of mental health treatment in America. Located in what was once part of the state mental hospital, the museum displays a fascinating and sometimes disturbing collection of exhibits including treatment devices, patient artwork, and reconstructed hospital rooms. Visitors gain insight into historical psychiatric practices and the gradual improvement of mental health care through the centuries.