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Common Pleas CourthouseCape GirardeauThe 1854 Common Pleas Courthouse, which once hosted Indian councils and held captive Confederate soldiers, overlooks the Mississippi River and downtown Cape Girardeau.View Destination |
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FestivalsScott Joplin Laura Ingalls Wilder Mark Twain Walt Disney Scott Joplin, Sedalia Scott Joplin set the standard for ragtime music, and is probably the best-known ragtime musician of all time. Scott Joplin moved to Sedalia in his early 20s, and the town remained his home base for most of his life. It even is where he wrote and sold his most famous piece of music, “The Maple Leaf Rag.” Today there is a Maple Leaf Room in Sedalia, housing a collection of Joplin memorabilia. About Sedalia – Visitors to Sedalia will soon discover the historical and artistic heritage of this town, located in central Missouri. Sedalia celebrates its rich musical heritage with the annual Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, gathering the world’s finest ragtime musicians. The Missouri State Fair is another proud tradition in Sedalia. Held every August since 1901, the State Fair is a showcase of the Show Me State’s finest. Tours of the state fairgrounds are also available. While touring Sedalia, don’t miss Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site, known as Sedalia’s “Castle on the Hill.” Hotel Bothwell, located in historic downtown Sedalia, first opened in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information on visiting Sedalia, please log on to the Sedalia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mansfield One of the country’s most famous children’s literary writers,< Laura Ingalls Wilder based her series of “Little House on the Prairie” books on her own family life. Wilder and her young family moved to Mansfield in 1894, and bought the Rocky Ridge Farm, transforming it from a 40-acre plot to a 200-acre working farm. Laura Ingalls Wilder lived in Mansfield until her death in the 1950s. About Mansfield - Mansfield, with its beautiful rolling hills and views, is nestled in the scenic Ozark Mountains. Just a quick drive from Springfield or Branson, the town is the perfect getaway for relaxation in southwest Missouri. Visitors may stop in at a local bed and breakfast for unparalleled Show-Me State hospitality and discover the natural beauty that helped inspire author Laura Ingalls Wilder. For more information, please visit the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce . Mark Twain, Hannibal Samuel Clemens, better known to the world as Mark Twain , was an American humorist, author and lecturer. After being born in Florida, Mo., his family moved to Hannibal, where he grew up. The town is known for providing the colorful characters and stories in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Twain began writing for his brother’s local newspaper, but he soon began traveling to cover stories on his own. One of the greatest American literary figures, Mark Twain died in 1910. About Hannibal – Located by the Mississippi River in northeast Missouri, Hannibal is best known as the boyhood home of Mark Twain. In fact, Twain’s beloved novels were inspired by stories from his childhood in Hannibal and his love of the river. Visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum and other area attractions to learn about one of the country’s most famous authors. Art lovers will enjoy a trip down the “50 Miles of Art.” Linking from Clarksville to Hannibal to Louisiana fine artists, craftspeople and artisans create hand-made masterpieces. For more information about Hannibal, please log on to the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau . Walt Disney, Marceline Raised in Marceline, Walt Disney made his imagination a reality. Though he only spent a few years in Marceline, the town had a profound impact on the young Walt. In fact, Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland is modeled after Main Street in Marceline. Once Disney finished his schooling in Kansas City, he began an art studio that produced the original “Alice’s Wonderland” film. When the studio failed, Disney joined his brother in Los Angeles and began creating cartoons of his own, taking the rights to “Alice” with him. His cartoons of a famous mouse turned into movies, theme parks and an empire that began with the imagination of a boy from Missouri. About Marceline – Marceline’s most famous resident, Walt Disney, once said, “To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since - or are likely to in the future.” Once you arrive in Marceline, it’s easy to see how Disney was so inspired by this charming town in northwest Missouri. Marceline, a town of approximately 2,500 people, is located three miles south of State Highway 36 on Highway 5. Visitors may stay at the historic Uptown Theatre Bed and Breakfast, which is still an operating movie house. Disney premiered his film The Great Locomotive Chase here in 1956. Learn more about Disney at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum or visit the Walt Disney Dreaming Tree and Barn located next to his boyhood home. For more information on Marceline, please visit the Marceline Chamber of Commerce . |
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