The capital of Missouri, Jefferson City is located near the northern outskirts of the Ozarks and along the Missouri River. Before the area was incorporated as a city in 1839, Jefferson City was selected to be the home of the state capital. The Missouri State Capitol sits on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River and its 238 foot-high dome with a bronze statue of Ceres the Roman goddess of agriculture atop is the first thing that comes into view for visitors of Jefferson City. The same bluff was one of the first things Lewis and Clark saw on their famous expedition. On the first floor of The Missouri State Capitol, you’ll find the State Museum, complete with paintings, pediments and friezes.
Elsewhere you’ll see heroic bronze figures depicting the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, a 13-foot statue of Thomas Jefferson, a bronze sculpture depicting the signing of the Louisiana Purchase and a Fountain of the Centaurs on the north grounds. And the grand staircase is flanked by large heroic bronze statues of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Another popular building worth touring is The Missouri Governor's Mansion, a beautiful Victorian home complete with antique furnishings. The Lohman Building, which is part of the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site gets oldest-indoor-dwelling-in-the-city honors, unless you want to count the caves in Graham Cave State Park, which were occupied by humans more than 10,000 years ago. Tours are provided for park visitors. The cave is surrounded by a forest area and provides hiking trails and picnic areas.
If you’re looking for a place with plenty of trails and tails, make tracks for the Runge Conservation Nature Center. There you’ll also see outdoor demonstrations of landscaping and wildlife habitat as well as naturalist guided programs for families, scouts, schools and other groups. When you need a rest from exploring this history-filled city, you’ll have a convenient location to repose and recharge when you stay at one of our Choice Hotels in Jefferson City, MO. Book a room online now!