Boonville: Culture, History and the Katy Trail

Boonville combines an impressive cultural history with a distinctive outdoor experience: the Katy Trail begins here, while theaters, depots and museums tell the story of the town’s past. Travelers who want to combine movement and discovery will find several different starting points for planning their days in Boonville.

Culture and History in Boonville

One special cultural landmark is Thespian Hall. It is the longest continuously operating theater west of the Alleghany Mountains. This gives Boonville a distinctive profile for travelers who appreciate historic stages and established cultural venues. The Katy Depot is also part of the town’s history. It is located at mile marker 191 on Highway 40, and its name alone points to the importance of railroad and trail history in Boonville.

Exploring the Katy Trail by Bike or on Foot

The 237-mile-long Katy Trail begins in Boonville. From here, visitors can explore the Katy Trail by bike or on foot. This offers two clearly different ways to incorporate the town into a trip: You can choose Boonville as the starting point for an active route or view the trail as one focus alongside cultural sightseeing. Boonville’s Katy Trailhead is located near the Visitors Center.

This location is also interesting for orientation, as other points of interest are situated there. The Rivers, Rails & Trails Museum is located in Boonville’s Visitors Center. It is also next to Boonville’s Katy Trailhead in the historic Depot District. Visitors who first want to gain an overview of rivers, railroads and trails can connect these topics in one place, without having to follow any particular order when visiting.

Walking Tours and Extraordinary Collections

Boonville’s Walking History Tour is a self-guided tour featuring more than 20 points of interest. The tour can be downloaded online; a brochure is available at the Tourism Office and the Visitors Center. This allows visitors to explore the town’s history independently, while the selection of individual stops focuses on historic buildings and landmarks.

Another cultural highlight is the Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum. Its collection includes vehicles from the late 19th century as well as automobiles from 1904 through the 1920s. The museum also houses the world’s largest collection of antique Mitchell automobiles and vehicles. Tours can be arranged by appointment through the Visitors Center. For visitors interested in early automobiles, design and the history of technology, this attraction offers a clear thematic contrast to the trail and the historic walking tours.

Which Accommodation Location Suits Your Plans

When choosing a vacation rental in Boonville, it is worthwhile to first determine the mix of activities you want for your trip. If the Katy Trail is the main focus, days spent cycling or hiking are an obvious priority. Those who prefer theaters, museums and the Walking History Tour can make the cultural sites the central theme of their stay. A combination is also possible: the trail, the Rivers, Rails & Trails Museum, Thespian Hall and the Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum represent different facets of the same destination.

If you would then like to compare additional destinations, the overview will take you to Blackwater. This allows you to compare Boonville with another town and tailor your accommodation search to the experiences that are particularly important to your travel group.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cooper.