5 Best Things to Do in Liberty, MO

© Independence Visitors' Center

Liberty Jail was a jail in Liberty, Missouri, two blocks northwest of the Clay County courthouse. The jail is famous as the place of imprisonment of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was imprisoned together with his associates during the 1838 Mormon War. They were charged with treason. The jail, now owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, operates a visitors' center with an indoor, cut-away model of the original jail. The jail was about 14-feet wide and long and about 6 and half feet tall. The two story building did not have any sanitary facilities. Joseph and his colleagues occupied cells on the bottom level, known as “the dungeon”.

216 N Main St, Liberty, MO 64068, Phone: 816-781-3188

© Belvoir Winery

Belvoir Winery is located on the grounds of the former Odd Fellows Home District in Liberty, Missouri. The property includes several buildings including a former care facility and hospital for the elderly, children, widows and orphans of members of the Order of Odd Fellows. The five-year old winery is owned by Jesse Leimkuehler and his family. They operate the winery, event space and a lovely nine-bedroom inn. Belvoir’s tasting room offers free tastings and the owner is on hand to tell the story about the winery’s onsite operation, bottling at Les Bourgeois Vineyards and wines they make from local Missouri grapes. Belvoir is as famous for its wines as it is as one of the most haunted sites in the state.

1325 Odd Fellows Rd, Liberty, MO 64068, Phone: 816-200-1811

© Bittersweet and the Little Soap Company

The Bittersweet Soap and Apothecary Retail Store occupies a beautiful century-old home in historic Liberty Missouri. Bittersweet offers their own Bittersweet Apothecary products, as well as various artisan items made by Jill - from paper flowers to linen aprons, natural skin care products such as wonderfully fragrant soaps that Jill makes in her studio. This modern apothecary has a fragrance department where customers have the opportunity to design and produce their own signature body spray, moisturizer or perfume. There is also a skin care department where customers get to learn about their own skin care and discover a range of pure and effective natural creams, cleansers, masks, toners, and facial oils. The shop also carries women's clothing and accessories, farmhouse items, antique trims, old books, aged wood and garden décor.

111 N Water St, Liberty, MO 64068

© hanohiki/stock.adobe.com

Clay County Archives and Historic Library is a non-profit corporation that serves as a depository and research center for original Clay County Records. In the mid-1980s, the Archive moved into its current location in the former Frank Hughes Memorial Library. Its main mission is to collect and maintain manuscripts, records and other documents that are of historical or other significance to Clay County, Missouri. The Clay County Archives is not a lending library. Researchers can review and study documents, books and maps in the archives collection on site. The archives also run a range of projects in order to maintain and expand their collections such as flat-folding and abstracting the original Probate, Civil, and Criminal Court Records.

210 E Franklin St, Liberty, MO 64068, Phone: 816-781-3611

© Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is a private nonprofit nature organization that owns and manages a 100-acre wildlife sanctuary near Liberty, Missouri. The sanctuary has about four miles of trails that meander through diverse habitats. There is also a wheelchair-accessible paved trail and a bird blind in the prairie accessible from the trail. The Nature Sanctuary offers a range of educational events and programs and events. The Nature Center, located within the sanctuary, has classrooms, a library, a gift shop, indoor bird viewing area, and several exhibits, some with live animals. The Nature Sanctuary is the fulfillment of the dream of Martha Lafite Thompson, a long-term resident of Liberty.

407 N La Frenz Rd, Liberty, MO 64068, Phone: 816-781-8598