Page 454 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

452  THE GREA T PLAINS

to a working, mountain farm. district. The riverfront’s 19th-
The Silver Dollar City theme century brick and cast-iron
park features high-tech roller warehouses were converted
coasters and water rides in a into loft apartments and
19th-century Ozark pioneer restaurants in the 1970s. Today,
setting, about 9 miles (14 km) the 1930s City Market building
west of town. The area’s biggest houses an eclectic collection
draws are Branson’s nightly of shops, farmers’ markets,
music programs, presented at retail outlets, and the Arabia
more than 30 alcohol-free Steamboat Museum, which
performance venues crowded displays artifacts salvaged from
together on the “The Strip” an 1856 wreck.
(Route 76 W). Northeast of the City Market,
The Classical Revival Missouri State Capitol, the Kansas City Museum is
Jefferson City P Shepherd of the Hills housed in a 50-room mansion
Homestead in one of the city’s most
j Jefferson City 5586 W Hwy 76, 2 miles W of Branson. exclusive 19th-century neigh-
Tel (800) 653-6288. Open May–Oct: bor hoods. Its collections trace
* 43,000. ~ £ @ 9am–4pm. & 7 ∑ oldmatt.com
n 100 E High St, (800) 769-4183. the city’s evolution from a fur
∑ visitjeffersoncity.com Y Silver Dollar City trading post into a powerful
399 Silver Dollar City Rd. Tel (800) railroad and agricultural center.
Soon after its founding as the 888-7277. Open Mar–Jan: daily. 7 “Crossroads Arts District”
state capital in 1821, Jefferson ∑ silverdollarcity.com refers to the area stretching
City grew into a busy Missouri south of downtown to Penn
River port. The Jefferson Valley Park and Crown Center,
Landing State Historic Site l Kansas City roughly bounded on the east
preserves many structures * 2,000,000. ~ £ @ and west by Main Street and
from its original waterfront, n 1100 Main St, (800) 767-7700. Broadway. The city’s two most
including the 1839 Lohman ∑ visitkc.com prominent architectural
Building. The Classical Revival landmarks, Union Station and
Missouri State Capitol, comp- A delightful study in contrasts, Liberty Memorial, are located
leted in 1917, now houses Kansas City is rife with imagery here. The magnificent Beaux
the Missouri State Museum associated with the Wild West. Arts Union Station, built in
and a mural by Thomas Hart This vibrant city now contains 1914, was one of the country’s
Benton. His bold 1935 A Social beautifully landscaped parks busiest and most glamorous
History of the State of the and boulevards, sophisticated railroad terminals. It rose to
Missouri was criticized by museums, fine public archi- national prominence in 1933
Missouri’s conservative power tecture, and high-end urban when outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd
brokers for its stark depiction of retail districts. A streetcar gunned down an accomplice
the state’s widespread poverty provides free rides along a and several police officers
and seamier underclass. 2-mile (3-km) route from Union in what became known as
Station to River Market West. the Union Station Massacre.
P Jefferson Landing State On the bluffs overlooking the Renovated after years of
Historic Site Missouri River, just north of neglect, the station is now
n Jefferson St, (573) 751-2854. downtown, the City Market sits a local history museum,
Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sat. on the site of the town’s original children’s science museum,
Closed Jan 1, Thanksg., Dec 25. 7 Westport Landing business and restaurant complex.

k Branson
* 7,000. n 269 State Hwy 248, (800)
214-3661. ∑ explorebranson.com
This sleepy Ozark Mountain
resort has radically transformed
since the 1960s, thanks to
the phenomenal success of
several family-oriented tourist
attractions. A musical pageant
revolving around the Ozarks-
based novel The Shepherd of the
Hills was one of the area’s first
big hits. It is still staged in a pic-
turesque, outdoor arena attached Kansas City skyline with Union Station in the foreground
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp460–62 and pp463–5

452-453_EW_USA.indd 452 11/2/16 2:47 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm