North Central

Tours are a good way to get some background information at new destinations. While we will usually rely on our exploration, this doesn't mean we are against guided excursions. Some places are limited to this type of visit, and we happily join in the group fun. This was the case when we stopped at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. With a good selection of options, we chose the 2-hour history tour. Our turn for walking the block would introduce us to one of the most notorious penitentiaries in America. It would give us a chance to hear a wide range of [...]

Visiting a new destination brings so many fun surprises. All of the sightseeing can work up quite an appetite. Fortunately, almost every downtown has an assortment of locally-owned eateries to choose from. Jefferson City is no exception, and we were filled with anticipation to take a peek behind the curtain at The Grand Cafe. When we spotted this restaurant, we immediately loved the look of charm and elegance. The curtained entryway exuded an aura of suspense, which drew us in for a look-see.   We want to thank Visit Jefferson City and The Grand Cafe for their hospitality. Rest assured that all opinions are [...]

Whenever we visit a state capital, we try to include a stop at the state museum, as well. While each city and town will usually show a local perspective, these state-sponsored destinations have an overarching view. The unusual thing about the Missouri State Museum is that it resides inside of the capitol building. Since we had already determined that we would see this historic dome from the inside, now we could tackle two stops in one. Once we cleared the security checkpoint, we were prepared for sizing up some history in the "Show Me" state. As we approached the capital, we noticed that [...]

Exploring Jefferson City would never be complete without sampling a couple of downtown restaurants. While they have a variety of cuisines to select from, sampling the BBQ scene is often a priority for us. Fortunately, we found an option sitting within easy walking distance from the capital building. After a day of exploring, we were looking for a meal that would fill us up, before our drive home. Earlier in our visit, we had spent some time strolling through the area, and had caught sight of Sweet Smoke BBQ. Seeing the satisfied faces of lunchtime diners had us anticipating our turn. As dusk [...]

On August 10, 1821 Missouri officially became a state. At that time the capital was in St. Charles, but plans for a new state capital were in the works. From what we could ascertain, Jefferson City was the only place specifically created to serve as the capital of a state. After the Missouri state legislature commissioned the new capital in 1821, it was ready for occupancy in 1826. Many in the state of Missouri did not like the new location and worked to get the capital changed. Our visit to Jefferson City would help us gain a better understanding of the storied history [...]