9 Stunning Small Towns In Missouri
Missouri’s small towns tell the story of a state shaped by two great rivers, the Mississippi and the Missouri, and by the waves of settlers who followed them west. In places like Hannibal and Ste. Genevieve, French colonial roots, and Mark Twain’s lore still echo along the roads. Towns such as Hermann preserve the legacy of 19th-century German immigrants through vineyards and Oktoberfest traditions, while Arrow Rock and Boonville recall the days of riverboats and the Santa Fe Trail. These stunning towns are living chapters of Missouri’s heritage.
Hannibal
Hannibal sits on the western shores of the Mississippi River, spanning northeastern Missouri’s Ralls and Marion counties. The childhood home of Mark Twain, it now hosts the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum. It features personal artifacts and exhibits. There is an hour-long guided excursion of the Mark Twain Cave, the state’s oldest show cave. It has a labyrinth of limestone passages that young Samuel Clemens himself explored and later featured in his novels. The Cave Hollow Winery’s tasting rooms allow for sampling Missouri-grown wines, and Riverview Park lets you traverse the paved trails, biking routes, picnic areas, and scenic overlooks.
Cape Girardeau
Colloquially called the Cape, this commercial hub of southeastern Missouri extends across Scott and Cape Girardeau counties along the Mississippi River, about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis. Aside from being home to Southeast Missouri State University’s scenic main campus, the town houses the Cape Girardeau Research Center, a branch of the State Historical Society of Missouri, whose mission is to study and preserve the history of the state’s southeast region. Retro fanatics are also drawn to Fort D, a Civil War-era fort, and the lone standing fortification constructed by the Union troops.
The walkable downtown attracts both residents and tourists with stylish women’s boutiques like Vera June Boutique, tasty Cajun classics & steaks serving Broussard’s Cajun Cuisine Restaurant, and the 18,000-square-feet Mississippi River Tales Mural on the floodwall, illustrating the area’s bygone years. Immediately behind the floodwall is the Cape Girardeau Missouri River Front Park, having docking facilities for the Delta Queen steamboat and a stepped concrete platform from where one can get panoramic river views.
Hermann
Along the Missouri River Valley near the core of the Missouri Rhineland, Hermann is Gasconade County’s administrative capital, acclaimed for its German heritage, classy settings, and thriving viticulture traditions. The Hermann Wine Trail that winds through the town’s rolling countryside links multiple family-owned wineries like Hermannhof, where one can tour the stone cellars, enjoy wine tasting in the main building, and snack on locally-made German sausages in the on-site Hermannhof Deli.
At the Deutschheim State Historic Site, turn back the clock to the 1840 to 1890 period with the many restored dwellings and original exhibits giving insights into the lives of German immigrants. Additionally, in the Hermann Caboose Museum, the interactive displays and special exhibits memorializing the Great Railroad Bridge Collapse of 1855 are a must-see for those curious about the railroad history of the area. Merrymakers gather amidst the colorful fall settings every weekend in October for the Oktoberfest celebrations with good food, beer, wine, and above all, good music.
Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock, a tiny Saline County hamlet situated atop a limestone bluff offering unobstructed Missouri River views, is entirely a portion of the National Historic Landmark-designated Arrow Rock Historic District. Once a cardinal riverport and a major stop along westward routes like the Santa Fe Trail, the settlement holds on to its Boonslick regional character, attracting 100,000 tourists each year.
The Arrow Rock State Historic Site is an open-air museum complex featuring a collection of old-time buildings: an archaic courthouse, a stone jail, the George Caleb Bingham House, and the 1834 J. Huston Tavern, Missouri’s oldest continually serving eatery. The state’s oldest professional regional theater, the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, houses a 416-seat auditorium in a Baptist Church building and hosts excellent plays and Broadway-level musicals for over 33,000 patrons each year. Birdwatchers must flock to the Missouri River Bird Observatory for viewing local birds and other wildlife in tranquil surroundings.
Fulton
Fulton, a college town and base for two renowned higher education institutions: William Woods University and Westminster College, is Callaway County’s administrative center, located roughly 22 miles northeast of the state capital, Jefferson City. The town’s focus of attention is the National Churchill Museum on the Westminster College campus. It features interactive exhibits and information on, among other things, Churchill's historic Iron Curtain.
Automobile buffs would not want to miss touring the Auto World Museum, where they can admire an impressive fleet of vintage cars, the oldest vehicle in the collection being a 1903 Humbrette. The Mildred M. Cox Gallery in the Gladys W. Kemper Center for the Arts invites art connoisseurs to laud the rotating exhibits from students, alumnae, university educators, and regional artists. The Brick District Playhouse, a premier event venue in Downtown Fulton, is the perfect place to catch theatrical plays, musical concerts, and special events throughout the year.
Ste. Genevieve
Popularly known as the "Little France of Missouri," Ste. Genevieve is the oldest permanent European settlement and the Ste. Genevieve County seat, located on the western shores of the Mississippi River, close to the state boundary with Illinois. Maintaining its distinct French influence, Ste. Genevieve’s timeless allure is primarily because of the thorough preservation of the poteaux-en-terre and poteaux-sur-solle buildings that can be seen as part of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park.
Likewise, the Felix Vallé House State Historic Site allows heritage geeks to survey the 1818 Federal-style Felix Valle House, plus other buildings built in the initial years of the 19th century. The sprawling Ste. Genevieve Levee Wildlife Refuge sited between the downtown and the Mississippi River, boasts more than 200 acres of open fields, floodplain forest, river bottomlands, and wetlands where one might see deer, bald eagles, great blue herons, and meadowlarks. There are also opportunities for fishing and hiking.
Carthage
Styled "America’s Maple Leaf City" owing to the vibrant fall foliage of the town’s plentiful maple trees, Carthage is a historic Jasper County community in southwestern Missouri, located to the south of Spring River by the US Highway 71. The centerpiece of this county seat is the majestic Jasper County Courthouse, constructed using Carthage marble; it's one of the state’s most photographed buildings.
The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, a well-kept 7.4-acre property preserving one of the foremost combat fields of the American Civil War, is also a must-visit for sightseers. Make time for checking out artist Samuel J. Butcher’s creation, the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens, with a chapel highlighting murals, hand-hewn colored glass windows, and handcrafted wooden doors. Outside the chapel walls, carefully tended gardens frame fountains and statues. From April to October, watch movies at the 66 Drive-In Theatre, with double cinematic films shown every weekend.
Kimmswick
A river town in eastern Missouri’s Jefferson County, Kimmswick honors history, community flavors, and Midwestern hospitality. A walk through the Kimmswick Historic District’s stone-paved streets reveals well-preserved properties, including the Horninghauser House. There is also the former home of Fred and Mabel Ruth Anheuser in Water’s Point that allows for the examination of antiques, portraits, and heirlooms of those who helped found and build the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company empire. Consider shopping for home décor items, handmade jewelry, and antique furniture at The Design Haus or grab baked goods, including the famous Levee High Apple Pie, at The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery.
Boonville
Cooper County’s seat of government, Boonville, sits on top of sylvan bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, right off Interstate 70 Highway, precisely halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City. Named for the sons of American pioneer Daniel Boone, this former vital trading point on the Santa Fe Trail, mixes its rich Civil War heritage with local traditions and recreational outdoors.
The River, Rails & Trails Museum features dozens of artifacts and exhibits, such as a half-scale keelboat, wagons, and model trains, provide information on the town’s transportation chronicles. Visit the Thespian Hall, the oldest uninterruptedly operating performing arts theater west of the Alleghenies. Play a round of golf at the par-72 standard Ozark-style Hail Ridge Golf Course and show up with your entire family every September at the Brady Showgrounds for the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association’s "Back to the Farm Reunion Steam Engine Show."
From the literary heritage of Hannibal, celebrated through the works of Mark Twain, to the German-rooted wine culture of Hermann, these Missouri towns are great fun to visit and explore. Filled with dynamic downtown streets, cultural landmarks, and community gatherings, each of these towns has its own engaging opportunities for exploration.
