Find Extraordinary Art and History in This Missouri City

Sponsored by Visit St. Joseph CVB

Once a thriving trade stop and the starting point of the Pony Express, St. Joseph, Missouri has held firmly onto its historic roots. Immerse yourself in history, art, and culture at more than a dozen unique museums. View the amazing architecture and enjoy specialty dining experiences in historic homes and neighborhoods. Take a stroll along brick streets downtown and marvel at public art on the St. Joseph Sculpture Walk. Despite its ingrained history, St. Joseph is a modern destination with distinctive shopping, restaurants, and welcoming hotels and bed & breakfasts making it a wonderful place for a weekend getaway.

Here are 7 of our favorite must-see sites in St. Joseph:

Patee House Museum

Built in 1858 as a luxury hotel, Patee House served as the Pony Express headquarters from 1860 to 1861. Patee House Museum features two full floors of exhibits. Here, you can climb aboard an 1860 train and ride the vintage “Wild Thing” carousel. The museum also houses plenty of historic artifacts and vehicles, Western art, and features a wing designed to look like the Streets of Old St. Jo in the 1860s-1880s.

ponyexpressjessejames.com

Pony Express National Museum

On April 3, 1860, at 7:15 pm, a lone rider left on horseback from the gates of one of the nation’s most historic landmarks, the Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri. Carrying saddlebags filled with our nation’s hopes and dreams, the riders traveled 2,000 miles west to Sacramento, California. Today the stables continue to stand as a tribute to the legend and legacy of the Pony Express and its enduring era. Come and experience exciting and educational exhibits highlighting the Pony Express. Whatever your age, you’re sure to be captivated by the stories and images of an era long passed.

ponyexpress.org

The Glore Psychiatric Museum

The Glore Psychiatric Museum takes visitors across the wide span of the historical treatment of mental illness and social attitudes towards mental health. Exhibits illustrate the changing face of psychiatric treatment and present the history of “State Lunatic Asylum No. 2” hospital.

stjosephmuseum.org/glore-psychiatric-museum

Remington Nature Center

The Remington Nature Center is where history and nature collide for a unique, fun, and educational experience. See a replica woolly mammoth, an 8,000-gallon aquarium of Missouri fish, an aviary, authentic American Indian artifacts, cultural and natural history displays, and more.

stjoenaturecenter.info

St. Joseph Museum

The St. Joseph Museum features one of the largest collections of American Indian items in Missouri. The collection includes archaeological items, pottery, baskets, pipes, clothing, and accessories from ten cultural regions. The museum also highlights The Black Archives Museum, which showcases the achievements and contributions of St. Joseph's African American citizens.

stjosephmuseum.org

Robidoux Row Museum

These circa 1840s housing units, built by city founder, Joseph Robidoux, met the temporary housing needs of westward-bound pioneers. Robidoux Row showcases the restoration of Robidoux’s personal quarters and is furnished with some belongings along with artifacts from St. Joseph’s past.

robidouxrowmuseum.org

Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art

This isn’t your mother’s stuffy art museum! The Albrecht-Kemper houses one of the finest collections of 18th, 19th, and 20th-century art in the Midwest with over 3,000 works. The museum has also sought to enrich the community through education and resources for regional artists.

albrecht-kemper.org

Safety:
During this uncertain time, the safety of our visitors and our community is of the greatest importance to us, and we’re committed to helping slow the spread of COVID-19. There is a mask mandate currently in place and details can be found at stjoemo.info/AlertCenter. #wearamask #socialdistance