If you’re looking for things to do in St. Joseph, Missouri today, you have plenty of options. Visit the St. Joseph Nature Center, Bartlett Park, the Beattie Mansion, Mount Mora Cemetery, and more! In addition to these, you can also check out the St. Joseph Farmers Market. If you’re a history buff, you may enjoy a trip to the St. Joseph Mental Health Museum, which has artifacts from over 140 years of history.
St. Joseph’s nature center
Visitors to St. Joseph’s nature center can enjoy the 7,000-gallon freshwater aquarium, woolly mammoth exhibit, observation beehives, wolf exhibit and interactive exhibit area. You can also learn about the history of the city, its Native Americans and the early settlers, and even view the famed Pony Express. The Remington Nature Center is well worth a visit, whether you’re a naturalist or a history buff.
Visitors to St. Joseph’s nature center can explore the St. Joseph Bluffs, a prime eagle habitat. The bluffs are made up of 30% open land and 70% forested. Hikers and bikers can enjoy the natural beauty of the region. You can even explore a bridge that connects two of the bluffs. By the end of May, the new bridge will be open for the public.
Visitors can learn about the city’s history by exploring the museum’s museum of Civil War art. Former Mayor Jeff Thompson supported the Confederacy during the Civil War, and there are many exhibits of Confederate and Union uniforms and weapons. In the late 1800s, cattle drives came to town. The railroad industry was a major part of the city’s economy, and it had a saloon and railroads. Visitors will also find a mural depicting the lives of cowboys.
Volunteers can help the Saint Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve with management and education activities. Volunteer opportunities are coordinated through the Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves Inc., a nonprofit citizen support organization dedicated to environmental awareness. Volunteer opportunities range from teaching to monitoring water quality and seagrasses. If you’re interested in helping, you can check out their website. There are many different ways to get involved and contribute to their mission.
Bartlett Park
A recreational area is located within the park, which features a baseball field, playground, and handicap-accessible treehouse. The park is a popular choice among families and children of all ages, as it offers a variety of activities to keep everyone happy. The park also offers free Wi-Fi, picnic tables, and basketball courts. It’s also convenient to the downtown area and is easily accessible by public transportation.
Bartlett Park is named after the founder of the city, Herschel Bartlett. In 1862, he moved his family from Indiana to Atchison County, Missouri, where he completed his education. After that, he joined his brother, Herschel, in a real estate business in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was involved in the real estate business, and helped bring large amounts of capital to this agricultural region.
A new playground was built in the third largest park in St. Joseph, Missouri, focusing on inclusive play. It was a long time coming, but now it is a reality, thanks to the efforts of Lynn Smith and others. The city’s Parks Department, with the help of the Aiden McVicker Foundation, and Firefighters Local 77, is planning a new playground.
Mount Mora Cemetery
Visit Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri today for a tour and learn about the history of the city. Located on the historic site, the cemetery is home to the remains of three U.S. senators and governors, soldiers of both sides in the American Civil War, and riders of the Pony Express. You’ll be amazed at the historical significance of the cemetery. Here, you can see a variety of burial plots, including those of famous locals.
The oldest cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri, Mount Mora was established in 1851. Its earliest residents included Missouri politicians, Civil War veterans, and wealthy citizens. It is also home to some of the city’s most impressive architectural tombs. The Mausoleum Row reads like a who’s-who of the St. Joseph elite. Three Missouri governors, Gen. M. Jeff Thompson, and former Missouri Secretary of State Joseph Henry were buried in Mount Mora.
A tour of Mount Mora will allow you to explore the stories of the pioneers who settled the area. While you’re there, you’ll find the resting places of three Missouri governors and the Owen sister, who invented the culottes. Veteran graves are also plentiful, with a Civil War surgeon buried in the cemetery who served both sides. Other notable occupants of the cemetery include early physicians, early engineers, and entrepreneurs, as well as the first licensed mortician and embalmer in the country.
While the cemetery’s history is rich, there’s more to see than meets the eye. Thousands of hours of documentation have been completed and the cemetery’s graves have been documented, and Lehr estimates that over half of its graves still need further research. In addition to serving as a living history museum, the Mount Mora cemetery has also become a popular destination for genealogical explorations.
Beattie Mansion
Whether you’re looking for ghosts, eerie ghost stories, or the most chilling history in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Beattie Mansion has something to interest you. This 1854 mansion is known for its ghosts and child spirits. You might even encounter the specter of a shadowy child in the kitchen or a male spirit in the basement.
This grand home was built in 1854 and originally consisted of two wings. The former house was home to the Armstrong Beattie family, the first banker in St. Joseph and an influential, wealthy businessman. Beattie was elected mayor of St. Joseph in 1857 and served five terms. The museum is open from April to October. You can tour the mansion and learn about the history of the area.
While visiting the Beattie Mansion, you should also visit the nearby House on the Hill. This is the site of one of Missouri’s most haunted houses, and is a popular attraction among locals. It’s home to famous writers like Mark Twain and the author of The Jungle, and is an interesting stop on your St. Joseph, Missouri vacation.
After a visit to the Beattie Mansion, guests may be interested in a ghost tour. The Beatties lived in the house until 1878, when it was converted into a home for the elderly. They were later buried there. The house is now home to a museum, and it has been featured on Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. In addition, you can stay overnight and experience the mansion for yourself.
Lake Wobegon Trail
The Lake Wobegon Trail is a unique trail that spans the Midwest. The scenic route runs through seven communities, two colleges, and two monasteries along the way. In St. Joseph, the route passes through Albany, Avon, and Holdingford. Runners will finish at the Trail Facility in St. Joseph. While the northern half of the trail is popular for bicycling, it is not recommended for beginners.
The trailhead is easy to find and is located under a water tower. The trail continues through Collegeville, an old town that once housed a train depot, boarding house, and post office. Upon reaching St. Joseph, you will pass Benedictine Abbey for monks and College of St. Benedict for women. You can visit both a two-story lookout tower and a gazebo to take in the scenery.
The extension of the Lake Wobegon Trail is an investment worth $4.9 million. It will link St. Joseph and Waite Park. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2017. Additionally, the second annual “Rock For Alzheimer’s” concert series will take place on Sept. 23rd, following the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in St. Cloud. Jeff Vee created the concert series after his father Bobby Vee passed away from Alzheimer’s in October 2016.
A fire broke out Oct. 13 north of St. Joseph. The fire took about three hours to put out. The city’s firefighters spent the next three hours fighting the fire, which destroyed a shed. The blaze had displaced a family and forced the building to close. Several businesses along the trail have been closed in the meantime. Despite the fire, the trail remains a popular place for people to hike and bike.
