I took the 6:00 PM, two-hour history tour on 20th June this year and had such a fascinating…read moreexperience. I feel lucky to have had Michael Lear as our guide, he was absolutely brilliant and was a stellar storyteller! The prison itself is very interesting, has alot of history behind it and honestly a little chilling. Hearing about its dark history really makes you stop, think about life and human existence. The parts about solitary confinement and how tiny the cells were with several people stuffed in were especially shocking. Michael even took us down to the basement solitary area and turned off the lights for a full minute so we could feel what it was like. That part gave me chills. We also got to see the prison cells from the 1800s all the way up to more recent ones, and even the gas chamber. It was intense but very eye-opening. I highly recommend this tour 1000%! And if you are lucky enough to have Michael as your guide, you're in for something fascinating. He also has a Missouri murder history podcast which is definitely worth checking out and supporting - It is called Show Me Murder. To conclude, thanks MSP for such an unforgettable experience!

The overnight paranormal investigation at the Missouri State Penitentiary was even cooler than it…read moresounds and honestly felt like a once in a lifetime experience. I was lucky enough to do the full eight hour overnight investigation, which means about 40 to 50 people with near free rein over three massive prison buildings in the middle of the night. Most of the time was spent breaking into small groups and exploring the grounds looking for paranormal activity, and for me that meant just me and one friend wandering dark cell blocks and corridors that felt completely abandoned. This is absolutely not for the faint of heart because there are long stretches where you truly feel alone, surrounded by silence, shadows, and your own racing thoughts. There were plenty of spine chills, more than a few moments where I questioned my life choices, and by the end of the night I walked out a full believer. It was intense, unforgettable, and easily one of the most fascinating and highly recommended adventures I have ever done.

This review is for the December nighttime candlelight walk, though my site notes cover any visit…read more Since the county parks department took over this historic village a few years ago, the program has been completely revamped. For the better, I've been told. For the candlelight program Daniel Boone and his wife, as characters, greet visitors and share a bit about their frontier life. Other period characters explain holiday customs, tell stories, or recite whole passages from memory of Dickens' A Christmas Carol or Moore's Nicholas (as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas was originally called). At points in the village visitors become part of the program, such as mummers (traveling beggars) at one house. The entire circular stroll starts and ends in the same spot. It takes about 2-1/2 hours to complete, though the time flies by. Visitor notes: This is not an ADA experience. It would be challenging even with a stroller. The interest level and time commitment might be more appropriate for older teens, young and middle age adults, and healthy seniors. Very much of the tour is outside as you move from building to building. Walkways are uneven rock paths, soft mulch, or wood stairs of varying heights. For the nighttime experience paths and buildings are lit by candlelight and can be somewhat dark. Floors are rock, wood, or dirt. The route would be difficult to travel other than by foot. Also, though cider and cookies are complementary, they're at the entrance/exit. You may want to pack snacks for yourself or little ones because no food is available on the route or allowed in buildings. However, go--if you can--and enjoy a truly unique holiday event.

This is a great historical site. The Daniel Boone Home is authentic and original to the site. The…read morehistoric village is not original to the site but includes a number of historic buildings that have been preserved and relocated here. We took the guided tour ($8 for seniors) and had a phenomenal tour guide. He was a recent graduate with a degree in history. His tour was very informative and he tried hard to dispel some of the myths surrounding Daniel Boone and some misconceptions based on the Festus Parker protrayal of Daniel Boon on TV. He was great. After the guided tour of the house, we did a self guided tour of the historic village. This was well worth the visit.

We wanted to rent the Christoper Wren church for an anniversary…read more They initially quoted a price of $2,000. and were totally inflexible even with reduced needs (i.e., afternoon only, no rehearsal the night before). That was not quite right, but we accepted it. But when we were ready to confirm, they advised us that they were bumping up the price by 40% (so $2,800 total), plus were adding a $500 cleaning fee, none of which was on their website or mentioned in any of their prior correspondence with us. Their excise was, "Oops, we didn't get around to updating the website?" Pathetic. Then, even though we'd already been communicating for a while, they said they wouldn't honor the $2,000 price. They said we were asking for a "discount," but what we were actually asking them to do was to simply honor their original quote. Their response was that they wouldn't budge on the preposterous $800 increase by even a dollar. A visit to the facilities is enjoyable. But avoid trying to do business with them, because they have no character or integrity.

Not interested in history during my school years, this was a place to go as an adult. So much great…read moreinformation on Churchill, his speech, life, The Cold War, etc. Thoroughly enjoyed the day here

The Great River Road has something to see no matter the time of year you visit. From nesting bald…read moreeagles in the winter to the fall foliage in autumn there is something for everyone. The Great River Road makes for a nice afternoon drive. Have a slice of Americana and visit the Great River Road. Make memories with your family and friends on this beautiful roadway. Bicycles and walking paths all with water views.

I highly recommend this drive! You'll come across so many historical towns and villages along the…read moreway. The views of the river are wonderful and plenty of places to stop along the way. You could even plan a ferry crossing in Grafton if you like.

This is a hidden gem when it comes to historic houses. This house has been incredibly restored with…read morecare and attention to detail giving visitors a true step back in time to see what 19th-century Victorian life was like for a affluent family in St. Louis. The house itself is that last remaining piece of the original neighborhood which originally stood outside of city limits. The docent was knowledgeable, welcoming, and gave what felt like an insider's look into the Campbell family highlighting original family belongings. My favorite pieces include a gas lamp that illuminates beautifully (seriously stunning) and massive portait of James A. Campbell with his dogs. Oh -- and the ornate toilet. I recommend a visit at Christmas time. The house is beautifully decorated for the holidays and you might just get to see and HEAR a special Christmas tree stand/music box!

We took advantage of the free tours being offered at the Campbell house museum this weekend and it…read morewas a great time. The fact that so much of the original furniture, art, and accessories remain in top condition if wild after all these years. Our tour guide was fantastic and we really enjoyed ourselves. A must-do if you are at all interested in STL history

I've been to about 150 Frank Lloyd Wright homes and have been lucky enough to have been inside…read morearound 30. We didn't know if we could get on the tour that day so we first stopped by to see it and take some pictures. We met an intern and found out that we could get in on a tour about 2 hours later. So we paid our fee and went to see Frank Lloyd Wright's mentor, Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis. I believe this is one of Sullivan's best work still standing. When we returned for the tour I was stunned. This is a great, late house by Wright that has many magical and playful elements to it. It's has most of the original furnishings and something totaling unexpected in a Usonian house--art glass windows. The tour guide was new and did an excellent. Everyone involved in this project should be very proud of the work they've done, and continue to do.

We joined a group of people to do a group tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kirkwood, MO. It…read moreis well worth the $20 tour fee. Anne was our docent. She was very knowledgeable about Wright and Russell and Ruth Kraus who the house was built for and the only residents. The Kraus house is one of the very few Wright houses that have not been remodeled and contains the original furniture designed by Wright. It has a cozy feel from the time you walk inside. I was intrigued by the esthetic design throughout the home.

This was an absolute dud. The museum takes up just two rooms in the state capital. They seriously…read moreneed their own building for one and two there is so much more to Missouri history than war. You deserve better than this, Missouri! Please raise some money and do this right!

If I am correct, this is the museum inside the capitol building. I've been spending more time in…read moreJeff City than I ever thought I would in my life time. There is NOT a lot to do, aside from dive bar hopping in the down town area doing a find-the-drunk-senetor scavenger hunt. The down town area is relatively dead on the weekends and it makes me sad that the MO state Capitol is so piddly. There are a couple really nice things do to if you're bored. One of them is to mill around the capitol building and peruse the museum. Aside from the grandeur of the building, the museum is a pretty neat little place, the most interesting being (to me), the section of things they found in the basement of the jail that has since been closed down. Decades of shanks, clothing ropes, weapons in hollowed out books. There are also sections about Missouri's history the good and the ugly. An educational opp that's worth checking out!

The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City was a really nice surprise and much more impressive…read morethan I expected. The interior is beautiful, and it felt like there were miles and miles of hallways to wander, which made exploring half the fun. I could only look into the galleries through the windows, but even from a distance they looked spectacular and full of detail. The rotunda was a standout for me, especially standing underneath it and looking up at the dome, which is genuinely stunning. It is one of those places that quietly sneaks up on you and makes you glad you took the time to stop and explore.

I've visited three state capitols, and they're all special in their own way. The Missouri one has…read moresome history of its own, as being the fifth overall capitol building in the state of Missouri, and just the 3rd one in Jeff City. You can park in a nearby garage or simply in front or back of the building. Be sure to check out the art and statues on the grounds, including the Statue of Liberty replica and the Thomas Jefferson statue. On the first floor is mostly the Missouri State Museum (not to be confused with the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis) where you can learn a lot about the Show-Me State. I highly recommend checking out the large timeline of Missouri events they have there. I also highly recommend checking out the gift shop, which doesn't seem like they have very much to offer (that's probably a good thing!). If you have a State Capitols Passport Stamp book, they will gladly stamp it. The other floors consist, of course, statewide offices as well as several offices for legislative leaders. As you enter the 2nd floor from the staircase you'll see the Governor's office door right away. (No, he wasn't there at the time of my visit). Down the hall is the Lt. Gov's office as well. The Senate and State House chambers are on the 3rd floor. Be sure to check out the detailed mural of artist Thomas Hart Benton, located on the 3rd floor. And the Hall of Famous Missourians, which consist of a very eclectic group of people: Walt Disney, Scott Joplin, Rush Limbaugh, Walter Cronkite, Stan Musial and many others. If you're a fan of visiting state capitols, this is for you. Got extra time? Check out the Bicentennial Bridge (MO celebrated its 200th birthday in 2021) that leads to a small island across the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, there's not much else to do in Jeff City, but you know.

Everything went wonderfully. The staff communicated well and were very accommodating and organized.read more

We used them for our shuttle service. The first bus the bride rode in had no music, BUT they were…read morequick to switch it out! The second bus was amazing. The driver was also very nice!