The Battle of Wilson's Creek took place on Aug. 10, 1861 and was the first major battle west of the Mississippi River. It was the second major battle of the Civil War taking place shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) on July 21, 1861. The battle had a significant outcome on the way future operations were ran in Missouri and the state being divided much like the country.
Opened in 2009, the Missouri Institute of Natural Science is the state's first natural history museum. Its primary mission is to educate the public about Missouri's natural history and how to learn from the past to better protect the environment today. Exhibits feature numerous fossils, artifacts, and specimens on display including dinosaur bones and fossilized bacteria. Many of these items were found in the nearby Riverbluff Cave, which was discovered after explosives were set off during road construction work (the museum was created as a result of this discovery; it is not yet open to the public). One of the museum's highlights will be a Triceratops skeleton found in Wyoming that is about 40% complete, which will be put on display once preservation and restoration work is complete. In addition to the museum, visitors can also hunt for fossils at a spot not far from the museum building and go for a hike in the surrounding woods.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of the state's best athletes. It opened in 1994 and houses over 4,000 sports memorabilia on display. There are also interactive exhibits such as a NASCAR simulator and a batters box. Located outside is the Legends Walk of Fame, which features busts of notable Missouri sports figures.
The Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks features restored military vehicles, aircraft, equipment, and memorabilia from the American military experience. Highlights include an AH1-S Cobra helicopter that visitors can sit in and an F-85F Thunderstreak fighter jet on display nearby. The Museum also offers many examples of U.S. military ground vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, and equipment. The museum staff includes volunteers and local residents who work to restore equipment and the organization strives to create an educational museum for young people with many hands-on exhibits and a working pre-war Singer flight simulator.
The Railroad Historical Museum is located in Grant Beach Park and consists of four connected antique train cars (it is possible to walk through all of them) and a replica 1890s depot. The train cars are the St. Louis San-Francisco Locomotive No.4524, a Burlington Baggage Car, a Chicago and Northwestern Commuter Car, and a Burlington Northern Caboose. Visitors will see many items on display including photographs, artifacts, equipment, paintings, and videos.
Located along the famed Route 66, one of the first highways built in the country that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, the Route 66 museum houses almost 70 cars dating from the 1890s to the mid-2000s. They fall under the categories Brass Era (the oldest cars), Classics, Sports, and Celebrity. Cars of note include Jaguars, Rolls Royces, a 1963 Morgan owned by General Norman Schwarzkopf, the truck used in the movie "The Grapes of Wrath," and a 1936 Horch that was sold to the German government (49 other models were sold as well).
Constructed in 1891, the Calaboose Museum is a historic jail and the oldest city-owned building in Springfield. Its architecture is a combination of Palladian and Greek Revival styles. The building is a police substation but the first floor is a museum and open to the public in the summer through early fall on Fridays in the evening. The old jail was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The History Museum on the Square is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Springfield and Greene County. This regional history museum is an expanded educational destination for Springfield and its visitors. Located on historic Park Central Square and the original Route 66 in Springfield, the buildings housing the museum have been restored to preserve and share the rich history of the city. The History Museum was voted USA Today's Best New Attraction 2019!
Discovery Center Springfield is a museum geared for children where they can learn about science, math, technology, health, culture, and art. Opened in 1998, the museums features numerous hands-on exhibits and activities, giving them the opportunity to learn in an engaging way. The museum also offers a variety of educational programming such as outreach programs, parent/child workshops, and distance learning, where staff members go to schools to teach kids about a specific topic. The museum is the only one of its kind in the region.
The Springfield Museum of Art is the city's oldest cultural organization. It houses over 10,000 works of art—including sculptures, paintings, textiles, decorative arts, pottery, ceramics—from a wide range of cultures and periods. A number of large sculptures are displayed on the museum grounds. The museum also offers classes and workshops for people of all ages in drawing, painting, pottery, and other areas. The museum has earned the distinction of being accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Opened in 2017, the Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is dedicated to wildlife, conservation, and celebrating the hunters and anglers who share these goals. It was founded by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The attraction is large—350,000 square feet—and is divided into two sections, the wildlife section and the aquarium. The wildlife section features exhibits with large, immersive dioramas (complete with smells) with animals in their natural habitats. The heads and horn collection of the Boone and Crockett Club (the country's oldest wildlife and conservation organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt) is also located here. The aquarium, which is 1.5 million gallons in size, holds around 35,000 fish, reptiles, jellyfish, eels, and other aquatic animals in themed sections. Visitors can also dive (in a cage using special air helmets) into the shark tank to get a more immersive experience.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
This driving tour begins at Wilsons Creek National Battlefield and takes visitors to each of the museums in Springfield. Highlights of the tour include the Calaboose Museum, the Springfield Museum of Art, the Route 66 Car Museum, and the History Museum on the Square. Be sure to also consider the Nathan Boone State Historic Site which is a short drive and located just northwest of Springfield.
