Bordered by the Mississippi river on the east, Missouri is a fascinating state to visit. From the beauty and majesty of the Ozark Mountains in the south to the famous blues, jazz, and world-renowned barbeque  of Kansas City and St Louis, Missouri, known to many as the “Show Me State”, is as diverse culturally as it is famous. Home to Walt Disney, Mark Twain, Chuck Berry, and Harry S. Truman, it is also home of the Anheuser-Busch brewery, the largest in the world.

Taking a drive along the historic and iconic Route 66 from St Louis to Joplin is, in itself, a vacation to remember. This week, we will share three of what we believe to be the best hidden vacation gems in the state. But these three stops on your seasonal road trip are a far cry from what all Missouri has to offer.

Bonne Terre Mines – Bonne Terre, MO

For those who are dive-certified, an hour drive south from St Louis at the Bonne Terre Mines in Bonne Terre offers diving pathways across 17 miles of subterranean channels and an amazing collection of rusted mining tools and machinery resting at the bottom of the “Billion Gallon Lake.”

Once the largest lead ore producer in the world, Bonne Terre Mines were used to dig ores from 1870 till 1962. Hundreds of workers mined at the site and huge mining machinery was installed around the underground caves to reap the maximum benefit out of the chambers. However, flooding and a sudden strike of underground water submerged the chambers underwater and with it sank millions of dollars’ worth of equipment that resulted in permanent closure of the mining business. As if nature had other plans for the wonderful channels of caves and tunnels, the chambers were reopened and now are regarded as the largest freshwater diving site in the world.

The Billion Gallon Lake is illuminated with over 500,000 watts of lighting, a total of twenty-four dive trails have been laid out in the lake, taking the diver through mammoth archways, past beautiful calcium falls, around gargantuan pillars and to the many abandoned mining artifacts. Depths of the dive tours average between 40 to 60 feet. Divers are toured through the mine in groups of ten by two specially trained dive guides. Super 80 cubic ft. aluminum tanks are provided for each diver. Dive lights are not permitted in the lake, because they detract from the natural beauty of the illuminated surroundings. Our Billion Gallon Lake is 58°F and not affected by outside temperatures, there are no thermo clines. Air temperature is 62°F year round. Lighting on the rock formations is spectacular. One can descend to 80 feet and look up to see divers silhouetted against a rainbow. Man carved pillars grace the entire Billion Gallon Lake. The 200 foot solid-rock pillar rising from depths and mining artifacts on the walls and floor make for spectacular underwater photography. If you are not a professional diver, you could take a boat tour or a walking trail to the regions which allow access.

Smallin Civil War Cave – Ozark, MO

Although Missouri remained split during the Civil War in its loyalty to one side or the other, many Civil-War era attractions are available to travelers across the state. One of my favorites is the Smallin Civil War Cave in Ozark, MO about 30 minutes southeast of Springfield. Even though Smallin was the first documented cave in the Ozarks, people sometimes forget about it. It is believed that the Union army hid artillery and ammunition in this cave while they were encamped on the Finley River. Smallin Civil War Cave was documented in 1818 by explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. The cave entrance is 55-feet tall and 100-feet wide. The cave holds a cache of Ozark history. Smallin Civil War Cave is listed on the national register as a historic district.

One-hour guided tours travel one-half mile. The trails are wheelchair and stroller friendly; no stairs, just gradual inclines.

Sidewalk museum, crawl fort, gemstone and fossil mining are available. There is a free picnic area. Snacks, sodas and water are available for purchase in the gift shop.

Wild cave tours are offered by reservation: two-hour, one-mile underground adventure off the beaten path, lit only by the headlamp on your helmet. During this tour, you walk through at least two feet of 54-degree water and traverse rugged terrain.

Civil War Lantern Tours are offered in the fall. Join them around the campfire for an evening of southern food, storytelling and a lantern-light trip through the mysterious cave.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum, Mansfield, MO

I grew up watching and loving “Little House On The Prairie”. Seventy-five miles northeast of Branson, MO in Mansfield is the home where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived from 1896 until her death in 1957. Wilder began writing the series while living there. The house, together with the nearby Rock Cottage on the same property, represents one of the few surviving places where she resided.

Laura and Almanzo Wilder bought 40 acres of farmland for $100 in 1894 that they named “Rocky Ridge.” Two rooms of the house were initially built between 1895 and 1897. Further additions through 1912 brought the house to its present form with ten rooms. Most of the work was done by Almanzo, with help from local carpenters and from Laura, using local materials.^[5]

The house is now a museum devoted to Laura and her writings. Visitors can see the study where Laura wrote her beloved Little House books, as well as the many treasures that remain exactly how she left them, including Pa’s fiddle and Almanzo’s tools.  At the Home & Museum, you can experience her home, her farmhouse, and the Rock House. A garden dedicated to Laura’s passion for gardening, “Laura’s Vegetable Garden”, is also there. There are sections of the museum which are dedicated to Almanzo and Rose. It is a throwback to a time of innocence and purity. For fans of the books and television series, like myself, it is a true hidden gem.

As we wrap up this episode in our ongoing series, we want to thank all of you for taking this journey with us. Hopefully, if nothing else, this series will inspire you to take a closer look at all of the “hidden gems” you discover on your trips, whether cross country or across the globe. In the meantime, happy “Red Frog Travels”….. 🙂