Buchanan County: Nature, Museums and History
Accommodation in Buchanan County
Anyone wishing to explore Buchanan County can combine experiences in nature, riverside landscapes and a diverse museum scene. St. Joseph in particular offers opportunities for a variety of vacation days: walks through natural habitats are complemented by exhibitions on regional history, art and influential personalities. When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home, it is therefore worthwhile to first determine your personal focus. Should the trip take place primarily outdoors, or would you like to visit several museums and historic sites?
Nature Along the Missouri River and Paths Through Greenery
The Remington Nature Center is located along the Missouri River in St. Joseph. Its surroundings include natural habitats for birds and other animals, prairie and wildflower areas, as well as a paved walking path. This allows you to complement your stay with more peaceful experiences in nature. Krug Park also has unpaved hiking trails and a lagoon. Lewis and Clark Lake is an oxbow lake bordered by Lewis and Clark State Park.
Lewis and Clark State Park includes a campground with basic sites, as well as sites with electricity and sites with electrical, sewer and water hookups. If you choose a vacation rental, you can focus your planning more on museums, walking paths and individual excursions.
The Pony Express and the History of St. Joseph
Patee House combines several historical themes. It is a National Historic Landmark because it served as the headquarters of the Pony Express in 1860, and it is also a museum of communications and transportation. The history of the Pony Express itself can also be traced in St. Joseph: On April 3, 1860, a single rider set out from the Pikes Peak Stables, marking the beginning of the Pony Express. The stables of the Pony Express National Museum house a modern, interactive and educational presentation of the history and myth of this mail service.
Other museums explore the history of individual people and buildings in greater depth. The Jesse James Home is dedicated to the life and death of Jesse James. Jesse James was shot and killed in his home on April 3, 1882. The museum displays items from his grave, including coffin handles, a tie pin, a bullet removed from his right lung area and a cast of his skull. The east wing of Robidoux Row is designed as a house museum and contains a reconstruction of Joseph Robidoux’s personal rooms, as well as a wintering room for a pioneer family passing through.
Mansion, Art and Unusual Museum Themes
The Wyeth-Tootle Mansion is a 43-room mansion in the Gothic Revival style with panoramic views of St. Joseph and the Missouri River. Art enthusiasts can find American art from the 18th to the 21st century at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. The collection includes colonial portraits, American landscape painting and significant examples of American Impressionism.
The Glore Psychiatric Museum documents the history of State Hospital #2. The replicas of historic treatment devices made by George Glore remain an important part of the exhibitions. The Black Archives Museum presents exhibitions on the Underground Railroad, the Middle Passage, the abolition of racial segregation, as well as education, sports and music. This allows you to choose between art, local history and social topics when planning your trip.
Historic Sites and Cultural Events
Mount Mora Cemetery was established in 1851 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Scenic winding paths and impressive monuments characterize the site. Buchanan County Courthouse also forms part of the region’s historic profile. The building was constructed in 1873 and houses the courtroom where the Ford brothers stood trial for the murder of Jesse James. The courthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Music adds to the historical offerings: The Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival is held on the third weekend of June in Coleman Hawkins Park on Felix Street. If you would like to combine cultural impressions with nature and walks during your trip, you can choose the appropriate days and preferred accommodation focus accordingly. For further trip planning, you can also access Saint Joseph as a separate destination.
Choose the Right Vacation Focus
Buchanan County is suitable for trip planning in which more than just a single excursion destination matters. Nature along the Missouri River, paths through greenery, museums and historic buildings offer a variety of daily rhythms. Families or travel groups with different interests can, for example, divide their days between walks, art collections and historical exhibitions. When searching for a vacation rental, consider which experiences are most important to you and what kind of trip you would like to create around them.
To the higher-level travel overview: Missouri.
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