Food, tours and history

A quick getaway to Jefferson City offers

Ashort drive northeast from the Lake brings visitors to Jefferson City where a full day of food and a deep dive into history awaits. The state’s capitol city makes the most of the past. Classic buildings and artifacts have been preserved, and they are open for the present public to enjoy.

windows to the Past

The State Capitol, Governor’s Mansion, and decommissioned penitentiary overlook the Missouri. Landscaping on the capitol and mansion grounds adds color for every season. They are places to enjoy an urban autumn.

The Capitol is home to the Missouri State Museum on the first floor. On the third floor, Thomas Hart Benton’s commissioned murals reveal the economic drivers of this state. History Hall honors Missourians who have shaped history itself. Busts of General Pershing, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Betty Grable recall the impact each had on the world.

Nearby is the Governor’s Mansion, open for public tours. Docents share bits and pieces of the state’s history as they guide guests from room to room.

Another sobering tour is of the Missouri State Penitentiary, decommissioned in 2004, but still vital as an at-