Ritchey MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Ritchey, Missouri.
1. Ritchey Mansion
HISTORIC CIVIL WAR SITE
Ritchey Mansion is a historical landmark that offers visitors a glimpse into Newtonia's violent Civil War history. The mansion stands alongside an old family/slave cemetery and features informative signage explaining the area's historical significance. Visitors can experience personalized tours from knowledgeable caretakers who bring the Civil War era back to life.
2. Newtonia Battlefield
CIVIL WAR BATTLE GROUND
Newtonia Battlefield preserves the site of two significant Civil War battles that occurred in this small Missouri town. The battlefield offers visitors historical markers detailing the events that transpired during these conflicts. History enthusiasts can explore the grounds where Union and Confederate forces clashed during this tumultuous period in American history.
3. Old Newtonia Civil War Cemetery
HISTORIC BURIAL GROUNDS
Old Newtonia Civil War Cemetery serves as the final resting place for soldiers and civilians from the Civil War era. The cemetery provides a solemn reminder of the human cost of the battles fought in Newtonia. Visitors can pay their respects while learning about local history through the preserved gravestones and memorial markers.
4. The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum
MINING HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum displays an impressive collection of local minerals and scale models of lead-mining apparatus. Located on the Schifferdecker Park grounds, the museum is part of the larger Joplin History & Mineral Museum complex. Visitors can examine antique mining equipment and learn about the region's rich mining heritage.
5. Gateway Arch
MODERNIST ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
Gateway Arch stands as an iconic 630-foot stainless steel monument symbolizing St. Louis' role as the gateway to the West. Visitors can ride a tram to the top of this modernist masterpiece for panoramic views of the city and Mississippi River. The surrounding Gateway Arch National Park features a museum detailing the history of westward expansion in America.
6. George Washington Carver National Monument
SCIENTIFIC LEGACY PARK
George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of the famous scientist and inventor. The 240-acre park includes a visitor center with exhibits, a museum, and a discovery center highlighting Carver's contributions to agriculture and science. Visitors can walk nature trails through woodlands and prairie landscapes similar to those that inspired Carver's love of plants.
7. Precious Moments Chapel
INSPIRATIONAL ART SANCTUARY
Precious Moments Chapel showcases the artwork of Samuel J. Butcher through murals and stained glass featuring his famous teardrop-eyed characters. Often called America's Sistine Chapel, this peaceful sanctuary attracts visitors from around the world to view its biblically-inspired artwork. The surrounding grounds include beautiful gardens, a visitor center, and gift shop with collectible figurines.
8. Grand Falls
NATURAL WATERFALL WONDER
Grand Falls is Missouri's largest continuously flowing natural waterfall, with water cascading 25 feet across a 163-foot-wide ledge of chert. Located on Shoal Creek, this natural attraction provides a scenic spot for photography, picnicking, and fishing. Visitors often wade in the shallow pools below the falls during summer months to cool off and search for chert rocks.
9. Red Oak II
RECREATED HISTORIC VILLAGE
Red Oak II is an artist-created village that serves as a tribute to vanishing small-town America, built by artist Lowell Davis. The village features relocated and restored buildings from the original Red Oak, Missouri, including a gas station, blacksmith shop, general store, and schoolhouse. Visitors can wander through this open-air museum and glimpse rural Midwest life from the early 20th century.
10. Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum
MILITARY HISTORY SHOWCASE
Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum commemorates one of the first full-scale land battles of the Civil War, fought on July 5, 1861. The museum houses artifacts, weapons, uniforms, and interpretive displays relating to this significant early conflict. Visitors can learn about local Civil War history and the impact of this battle on Missouri's role in the greater conflict.
11. Roaring River State Park
SCENIC OUTDOOR RECREATION
Roaring River State Park offers 3,403 acres of scenic Ozark landscape centered around a deep, narrow valley with a blue spring that feeds Roaring River. The park is renowned for its premier trout fishing, with a hatchery ensuring well-stocked waters throughout the fishing season. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails, camping facilities, cabins, a nature center, and swimming pool while exploring the dramatic limestone cliffs and lush forests.
12. Joplin Museum Complex
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Joplin Museum Complex houses multiple museums including the Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum showcasing local history from mining to Route 66. The complex features exhibits on famous Joplin residents like Bonnie and Clyde, as well as artifacts from the devastating 2011 tornado. Visitors can explore the region's rich cultural heritage through photographs, documents, and memorabilia spanning over a century.
13. Carthage Civil War Museum
HISTORICAL BATTLEFIELD EXHIBITS
Carthage Civil War Museum preserves the history of the July 1861 battle that took place in and around the town. The museum displays artifacts recovered from the battlefield along with period weapons, uniforms, and personal items belonging to soldiers. Interactive exhibits explain the strategic importance of Carthage during the Civil War and Missouri's unique position as a border state.
14. Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center
NATIVE ECOSYSTEM PRESERVE
Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center protects one of the last remaining chert glades ecosystems in the world. The center offers hiking trails through unique habitat featuring exposed chert rock formations that support specialized plant and animal communities. Visitors can learn about local ecology through interpretive displays and participate in educational programs about conservation efforts.
15. Prairie State Park
TALLGRASS PRAIRIE RESERVE
Prairie State Park preserves over 4,000 acres of tallgrass prairie, offering visitors a glimpse of what Missouri's landscape looked like before European settlement. The park is home to a free-ranging herd of American bison and elk that can often be spotted grazing across the rolling hills. Hiking trails wind through wildflower-dotted prairie where visitors can experience the vast open spaces and diverse ecosystem that once covered much of the Midwest.