One of Springfield, Missouri's oldest landmarks and most beloved attractions is the Landers Theatre. Built in 1909, it was the first civic theatre operation in Missouri.
The four-story building has a rich history. Lillian Russell, John Phillip Sousa, Lon Cheney and Fanny Brice are just some of the famous faces to grace its stage. In 1928, the Landers Theatre became one of the first motion picture houses in the country to start showing "talkies."
Before the first white settlers arrived in the Springfield, Missouri area, the Osage Indians inhabited the region. To learn more about this native culture, visit the Osage Village State Historic Site, located near the Harry Truman Birthplace State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri.
Ghost Tour of Springfield Missouri
A city as old as Springfield, Missouri is bound to have it's own ghost stories and legends. There are many "haunted" locations in Springfield and the surrounding areas that you can visit. Create your own ghost tour and take time to visit each one.
Wild Bill Hickok Shootout
with Dave Tutt placed Springfield MO on the front page of many newspapers around the country.
You normally wouldn't think of Springfield, Missouri as being part of the Old West. But in 1869, the city played an important role in creating the image and legend of an Old West icon, Wild Bill Hickok.
Shootouts are popular in cowboy movies, but in actuality they didn't happen all that much. However, Hickok's 1869 shootout with Dave Tutt had much to do with spreading the image of two men facing off on a dusty road.
Springfield is an area that has a lot of rich history behind it. The area was a very important place throughout the entire Civil War. Now these areas have been established as historical sites and the sites have been kept as close to their original conditions as is possible.
If you do not want to take the time to visit each of these numerous historical sites, then you should at least make sure to make a visit to the Springfield history museum. There you'll be able to get at least a small glimpse into the historical significance that Springfield has.
Route 66 is most commonly associated with California, where the route ends. However, Springfield, Missouri is its birthplace. You can tour parts of the old "Mother Road" throughout Springfield.
