St. Joseph, Missouri

The Patee House Museum today is a National Historical Landmark and a museum of transportation and communications. Originally built by John Patee as a hotel, the building has been used as a hotel, a girl’s college, and a shirt factory for over eighty years. The Patee House even served as the Pony Express headquarters back in 1860. Visitors can explore a wide variety of items on display inside the two-story Patee House Museum, including a railway mail car, an 1860 locomotive, a 1920’s-style service station featuring a Model T, a 1921 race car, antique cars, and much more.

1202 Penn St, St Joseph, MO 64503, Phone: 816-232-8206

On April 3rd of 1860, a single rider, the first rider of his kind, departed from the Pikes Peak Stables in the town of St. Joseph, Missouri. This marked the beginning of the famous Pony Express, a network of brave riders who carried saddlebags full of the dreams and hope of the country, traveling over two thousand miles to California. The stables today house the educational, interactive, and modern museum dedicated to the legend and history of the Pony Express. The Pony Express Museum features state-of-the-art exhibits, images and stories, and a sixty-foot diorama depicting the diverse terrain traveled by the riders.

914 Penn St, St Joseph, MO 64503, Phone: 816-279-5059

The Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri has been recognized as one of the country’s “50 Most Unusual Museum,” due its collection of numerous intriguing and unique exhibits. The interesting museum has also been mentioned on several television networks and in national publications, such as The Science Channel, PBS, The Discovery Channel, and The Learning Channel. This award-winning museum shares the history of mental health treatment and the State Lunatic Asylum No. 2.

3406 Frederick Ave, St Joseph, MO 64506, Phone: 816-232-8471

The Missouri Theater first opened its doors in the town of St. Joseph in June of 1927, showing Rough House Rosie as its main feature. The unique structure of the theater was added to the United States’ National Register of Historic Places later in 1979, and while numerous movie palaces were being torn down across the country to build more contemporary movie theaters, the residents of St. Joseph banded together to prevent the Missouri Theater’s destruction, preserving one of the few examples of the Hollywood-Oriental style in the nation. The theater was shut down and reopened as a performing arts center.

717 Edmond St, St Joseph, MO 64501, Phone: 816-271-4628

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Established back in the year 1902, Krug Park can be found at the north end of the town’s St. Joseph Parkway. Often noted as the town’s oldest park, Krug Park features colorful flower beds, extensive landscaping, Italian Renaissance structures, and much more across the more than 160 acres. Visitors to Krug Park can also enjoy picnic areas, off-road biking trails, scenic walking trails, a playground with Italian-style castle, rose gardens, a large lagoon, and an amphitheater. During the Christmas season, the park grounds “light up,” transforming Krug Park into the Holiday Park, home to Northwest Missouri’s largest outdoor light display.

3500 St Joseph Ave, St Joseph, MO 64505, Phone: 816-271-5500

The Jesse James Home Museum in St. Joseph is the former home of Jesse James. The infamous outlaw was living at the house when he was shot and killed by Robert Ford on April 3rd of 1882. The Greek Revival-style, one-story residence still contains many items that were owned by the outlaw, as well as by his wife and children. The Jesse James Museum features exhibits that deal with his life and death, such as one based on the 1995 grave exhumation that includes several artifacts, including a pin that was worn by Jesse James, a bullet, photographs, and coffin handles.

1201 S 12th St, St Joseph, MO 64503

Robidoux Row Museum consists of several different living units that were once rented by the area’s early settlers when they passed through the city of St. Joseph, Missouri. Built by Joseph Robidoux, the founder of the city, during the 1840’s these buildings met the temporary housing needs during the country’s westward expansion and the pioneer era. Exhibits at the Robidoux Row Museum feature the history of the Robidoux family and the early history of St. Joseph, along with a number of rooms that have been restored to depict their original purpose.

219 E Poulin St, St Joseph, MO 64501, Phone: 816-232-5861

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

St. Joseph, Missouri is known for being home to an extensive amount of beautiful mansion constructed during the latter part of the 1800’s and the city’s Wyeth Tootle Mansion is certainly a prime example. WIth over forty rooms, a tower, and three floors, the mansion today stands as one of the city’s best examples of the late nineteenth century opulence and wealth, featuring imported stained glass, hand-painted ceilings, and gorgeous woodwork.

1100 Charles St, St Joseph, MO 64501, Phone: 816-232-8471

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art acts as a center for the cultural arts in Northwest Missouri, home to one of the Midwest region’s finest collections of American art from the eighteenth century through the twenty-first century. Formerly the home of William Albrecht, the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art features works by Albert Bierstadt, Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Hart Benton, Marry Cassatt, and several others. The art museum also offers a gift shop and cafe.

2818 Frederick Ave, St Joseph, MO 64506, Phone: 816-233-7003