The state of Missouri is located in the mid-western region of the United States. Other states that border Missouri include Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. There’s tons of interesting knowledge to uncover about Missouri, including the fact that the capital is Jefferson City, the current population falls at 6.168 million people, and the residents there experience a variety of seasonal climates throughout the year.
Beyond these basic details, Missouri has a fabulous reputation for being a top-notch destination for travelers to visit. The tourism industry of Missouri pulls in around $13.5 billion every year. Since plenty of adventurous people consider Missouri to be a great destination for weekend getaways and holiday breaks, more than 257,000 jobs exist to cater to those travelers.
Some of the most exciting stops to make in Missouri into the Gateway Arch, the St. Louis Zoo, the Ozark Mountains, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Depending on if you prefer hanging out indoors or outdoors, there are loads of activities to draw you and your loved ones in. On the topic of Missouri, click here to uncover the most popular sports teams that play and practice in the state.
To gather this list of 20 things Missouri is known for, 24/7 Tempo consulted several sources. These include Only In Your State, US News & World Report, Nomads Unveiled, The Fact File, and Britannica.
Missouri’s nickname: The Show Me State
Missouri’s nickname is “The Show Me State.” The nickname came to be after Joplin minors from Missouri revealed that they didn’t understand Colorado’s mining methods. Their inability to quickly catch on meant they needed frequent instructions from pit bosses. Since Missouri minors always needed visual examples shown to them, a nickname like “The Show Me State” was born.
The Gateway Arch
While New York City might be known for structures like Empire State Building and Rockefeller Plaza, Missouri has its own structure to admire. A visit to Missouri wouldn’t be sufficient without spending time at the Gateway Arch. The Gateway Arch is located in St. Louis and stands 630 feet into the sky. The arch is made out of stainless steel and constructed to resemble the image of a catenary arch. To this day, the Gateway Arch is the tallest arch in the world.
The St. Louis Zoo
The St. Louis Zoo is worth exploring while visiting Missouri since it gives folks a chance to see wild animals up close. The zoo is full of tons of interesting animals that will pique your interest if you love science, nature, and the great outdoors. Some of the mammals at the St. Louis Zoo include lions, tigers, leopards, bears, elephants, and camels. A couple of the amphibians there are toads and frogs. As far as birds go, visitors can lay eyes on flamingos, pelicans, Eagles, owls, ducks, and so many other species.
The Ozark Mountains
The Ozark Mountains can be admired from Missouri, but that’s not the only state where that fact is true. The Ozark Mountains extend across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, and Oklahoma as well. Adventurous individuals are welcome to head over to the Ozark Mountains for hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, and camping. There are also a few shopping and dining options scattered throughout the Ozark Mountains for folks who are less physically active.
The Missouri Botanical Garden
One of the most aesthetically pleasing places to visit in Missouri happens to be the Missouri Botanical Garden. The garden is full of vibrant flowers and lush greenery. It’s a wonderful place to snap memorable photos you can reflect on in the future. Social events always take place at the Missouri Botanical Garden including Therapeutic Horticulture Open Houses, Webster Groves Herb Society Displays, and holiday brunches. Flowers that bloom at the Missouri Botanical Garden include azaleas, magnolias, orchids, peonies, and water lilies.
The Kansas City Chiefs and other major sports teams
Sports are a big deal in Missouri with a team as talented as the Kansas City Chiefs leading the way. Players like Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are the reason this team is so beloved. The fact that the Chiefs won the 2024 Super Bowl has been ideal for their reputation.
Other major sports teams in Missouri include the St. Louis Cardinals, the Missouri Tigers, the Kansas City Mavericks, the St. Louis Blues, the Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis City FC. Sports teams work wonders when it comes to keeping people connected. These teams are known for staying in tune with their fan bases.
Eminem, Taylor Momsen, Don Cheadle, and other celebrities
A handful of noteworthy celebrities were born and raised in Missouri. Eminem is a beloved rapper with hit songs like “The Real Slim Shady,” Lose Yourself,” and “Sing for the Moment.” He was born in Saint Joseph. Taylor Momsen is an actress who made a name for herself in projects like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Gossip Girl.”
She was born in St. Louis. Don Cheadle is a well-known star who’s collected tons of impressive accolades over the course of his career. These include a Grammy, two Golden Globes, and two screen actors Guild awards. Cheadle was born in Kansas City.
The Pony Express
The Pony Express is often mentioned when people reference the old west. It function for 18 short months between April 1860 in October 1861, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t leave it’s mark on society. The Pony Express was recognized for its ability to deliver a letter faster than ever before. It all started in Missouri.
Barbecue
As far as different cuisines go, Missouri is definitely known for barbecue. Since barbecued food as menu items are so popular in the state, there are several restaurant options to choose from when visiting. Kansas City alone has more than 100 barbecue restaurant options to pick through. Some of the most popular barbecue spots in Missouri are Pappy’s Smokehouse, Gates Bar-B-Q, and Lutz’s BBQ.
The Missouri River
The longest river in America happens to be the Missouri River. It’s a whopping 2,341 miles long. An affectionate nickname for the Missouri river is the “Center of Life.” For thousands of years, mankind has relied on the Missouri river for transportation, food, and trading capabilities.
If you’re curious to know whether or not it’s safe to swim in the Missouri river, the answer is no. It’s considered incredibly dangerous to swim there. The water current of the Missouri river ranges between four to seven miles per hour, which will undoubtedly tire you out — even if you’re an incredibly strong swimmer.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is something that excites history buffs from all over the globe. The Lewis and Clark Expedition is deeply connected to Missouri since it was a significant destination on the journey. As a reminder, the Louis and Clark Expedition lasted from May 14, 1804 until September 23, 1806. It was organized by former US President Thomas Jefferson’s to learn more about America’s lands.
The production of agriculture
Agriculture is a booming business in Missouri. That’s because there are tons of worthwhile crops growing in Missouri soil all the time. The crops are sold to different markets and restaurants across the United States. Some of the most noteworthy crops to thrive in Missouri include cotton, corn, soy beans, and rice. When comparing the soaring sales rates of all Missouri crops, soy beans always tend to come in first place.
Tornadoes
One of the negative things Missouri’s known for happens to be tornadoes. Tornado season strikes around the month of May each year in Missouri. On average, about 45 tornadoes strike annually. For this reason, Missouri residents have storm shelters built into their homes. Storm shelters are typically built as underground attachments to every house. Sometimes, they’re built with some separation just a few feet away from the front door.
Maple Leaf Festival
Visiting Missouri in October means there’s a chance you’ll experience their vibrant Maple Leaf Festival. The captivating celebration includes floats and musicians parading through the streets of Carthage. The Maple Leaf festival exists as a way of honoring 50 years of Missouri’s history. The extravagant event is family-friendly, which means people of all ages are welcome to partake in the fun. Food, music, and a crowd of high-vibrational people are the norm at every annual Maple Leaf Festival.
Former President Harry S. Truman’s childhood home
Former President Harry S. Truman’s childhood home is located in Grandview, Missouri. It’s now considered a national historic site where individuals can go on self-guided tours. People who are curious to learn more about Truman’s childhood home are welcome to visit in person seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. The home, which is connected to a farm, offers interesting insight into his humble beginnings.
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch is a brewing company with headquarters in St. Louis. It was originally founded in 1852 for beer lovers in the area. As of now, this beer brand has brewing locations spread out across several other states including New York, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and California. This is the official beer brand that owns Budweiser, Michelob, Stella Artois, and Beck’s.
The Silver Dollar City Theme Park
The Silver Dollar City Theme Park is an amusement park located in stone county. It spans across 61 acres and offers fun rides and attractions for guests of all ages. This means that young children can join in on the fun with older family members. In total, there are 40 rides and attractions at The Silver Dollar City Theme Park to experiment with. The amusement park opened for the first time in 1960, giving Missouri residents a chance to experience to experience something similar to California’s Disneyland.
Wildlife
A visit to Missouri means you might come face-to-face with wild animals in nature. This type of encounter is most likely to occur if you’re interested in hiking through Missouri trails off the beaten path. Common creatures roaming around Missouri include deer, beavers, coyotes, lizards, black bears, raccoons, squirrels, otters, and turtles. Most wild animals are calm and unaggressive unless they’re provoked. Still, maintaining a safe distance from wild animals in Missouri is advised.
“Fever Pitch” and other blockbuster movies
“Fever Pitch” is one of the biggest movies to hit theaters back in 2005. It starred Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in the leading roles. The movie was filmed in St. Louis. “Fever pitch” isn’t the only movie that used Missouri as a backdrop, though. “Kill Shot” from 2008 was filmed in Cape Girardeau, “Up in the Air” from 2009 was filmed in St. Louis, and “American Honey” from 2016 was filmed in Kansas city.
Fair Saint Louis
Another epic event worth checking out in Missouri is Fair Saint Louis. It’s been arranged every year since 1981. This fair gives Missouri residents the chance to enjoy live music, beautiful fireworks, and delicious food. It provides locals with a sense of community and belonging. It also serves as an exciting highlight for tourists who are temporarily vacationing in Missouri. To find out more about the Show Me State, click here to meet the 10 biggest musicians from Missouri.