Springfield Missouri
Paddle boarding adventure on Lake Springfield
Underwater views at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
The historic Heer's building and the History Museum on the Square in Park Central Square
The 1926 Gillioz Theater, one of the top downtown entertainment venues in Missouri
Family fun at the Fantastic Caverns underground cave tour
Meeting the Springfield Cardinals’ mascot before a game at Hammons Field
Discover the beauty of the Ozarks waterways while kayaking
Cannon firing during a reenactment at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Family photo opportunity at the flagship Bass Pro Shops
A classic Corvette outside the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center
- Major Airports:
- Springfield-Branson (SGF)
- Kansas City (MCI)
- Tulsa (TUL)
- States:
- Missouri
Sharing in the wonder of this vibrant, friendly city
Shop, Stroll, Eat and Be Amazed
Visitors to Springfield can expect to spend hours at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the No. 1 tourist attraction in Missouri. The company’s first and largest store is filled with aquariums stocked with native fish, waterfalls, taxidermy displays and one of the largest selections of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium opened to accolades in 2017 and was voted the No. 1 Best New Attraction in America by USA Today readers. Adjacent to Bass Pro Shops, the nearly 33,000-square-meter aquarium and wildlife galleries showcase more than 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles and birds along with a spectacular collection of record-setting game animals. Visitors will find themselves immersed in an exotic experience that takes them around world, from the hot African savanna to the Arctic tundra complete with the Northern Lights dancing overhead.
Famous Highway and Historic Sites
Springfield is recognized as the official Birthplace of Route 66. The historic “Mother Road” linking Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, got its name during a meeting of highway officials there in 1926. History buffs will want to cruise along local portions of the famous highway, making stops at the History Museum on the Square, Route 66 Car Museum, and the Park Central Square site of the quick-draw shootout between Wild Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt. At Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, where the second major battle of the American Civil War took place in 1861, see war exhibits and go on a self-guided trail tour.
Notable Attractions
There are many reasons to extend a stay in Springfield. Among them is Fantastic Caverns, the only cave in North America large enough to ride through on a 50-minute tour of an underground riverbed on Jeep-drawn trams. Smallin Civil War Cave also has the largest cave opening in Missouri. Stroll through 32 hectares of native forests and fields at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, then go to Dickerson Park Zoo to see more than 340 animals representing 120 species. Children will adore the Discovery Center, an interactive, hands-on educational experience where they learn while they play with everything from a giant eyeball to building blocks.
For sports fans, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has 2,000 square meters of sports memorabilia and displays. Take in a game at Hammons Field, home to the Springfield Cardinals, a Double-A franchise of the St. Louis Cardinals. A trip to Springfield is not complete without an excursion to downtown Springfield or Historic C-Street, two unique areas of the city filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques, award-winning restaurants and vibrant entertainment options.
Fun Fact
American folk hero "Wild" Bill Hickok was involved in the first recorded quick-draw shootout of the Wild West era, which occurred on Park Central Square in 1865.
In 1953, about 10 hooded cobras escaped from a local pet shop. While the cobras caused fear throughout the city, some businesses offered cobra haircuts, cocktails and other cobra-themed items. The incident was covered by national media.
Springfield’s signature dish is Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken. Created by David Leong in 1963, Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken can be found on menus around the world. The Leong family still has a restaurant in Springfield – Leong’s Asian Diner.
