175 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Missouri - Atlas Obscura
All United States Missouri

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Missouri

175 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Missouri

Updated May 14, 2024

Email

Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Bonne Terre
  2. Cape Girardeau
  3. Carthage
  4. Chesterfield
  5. Columbia
  6. Hamilton
  7. Independence
  8. Jefferson City
  9. Joplin
  10. Kansas City
  11. Kirksville
  12. Marshall
  13. Springfield
  14. St. Joseph
  15. St. Louis
  16. Weston

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer's Guide to Highway 36: The Way of American Genius

Sponsored by Visit Missouri

Spanning the state of Missouri, from St. Joseph to Hannibal, Highway 36 is full of intriguing stops packed with incredible stories of innovation. Known as “The Way of American Genius,” the route highlights inventions and individuals who left a lasting mark. From the starting point of the Pony Express and the bakery that introduced sliced bread to magical towns that sparked inspiration for creative geniuses Walt Disney and Mark Twain, these spots along Missouri’s Highway 36 will leave any traveler dreaming of the next big thing.

View Itinerary

Unusual Attractions in Missouri

See All 175 Things To Do in Missouri

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Missouri

See all 10 Places to Eat in Missouri
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Missouri

Museums And Collections 18
Nature 14
Water 13
Collections 12
History & Culture 12
Ecosystems 11
Aletrail 11
Caves 10

Missouri Leaderboard

Recent Missouri Activity

Stories About Missouri

The Missouri State Penitentiary once housed infamous inmates like James Earl Ray.

The Bloody (and Haunted) History of the Missouri State Penitentiary

Time Magazine called the prison “the bloodiest 47 acres in America.”
Sponsored by Visit Missouri

Podcast: Endangered Wolf Center

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Floating Freedom School

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
A crowd of swimmers and sunbathers on Lincoln Beach in the 1920s.

The Hidden History of a Missouri State Park

Century-old traces of a bygone resort are starting to surface at Castlewood.
by Evan Nicole Brown
The mysterious, infamous Missouri highway pickle jar.

A Highway Pickle Mystery Is Preserved in Missouri

The jar of cukes has survived time, construction, and foul weather. But can it survive fame?
by Cara Giaimo
The Route 66 record holder was bested by a bigger rocking chair in Illinois.

How the U.S. Lost the Title for the World's Largest Chair

After a century of states battling it out for the honor, the current record holder is in... Austria.
by Kavya Ram Mohan

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More