For tourists and vacationers in Missouri, this essential travel guide will help with planning trips anywhere in the state, revealing sites of interest at every point along the way. For armchair travelers and history enthusiasts, it will provide extraordinary adventures through the state's rich past. With detailed information on hundreds of towns, Missouri Roadsides describes why each one was built where it was, who built it and when, and how it got its name. Museums, parks, outdoor recreational areas, special events, geographical features, architectural treasures, and local oddities are just some of the topics covered in this comprehensive and easy-to-use volume. No compilation of information about the state of Missouri has ever been so complete.One road leads to another; along the way there are wonders and curiosities and places to picnic or nap. Bring a cooler, some gas money, and this incredible traveling companion, and you will be ready to see Missouri as you've never seen it before!Features dozens of historical photographs and maps, as well as contemporary mapsShowcases the histories of Missouri's 114 countiesLists the origins of over 1,200 Missouri place-namesIncludes architectural descriptions of courthouses, antebellum homes, and other fascinating structuresSupplies detailed charts on hiking, fishing, camping, and other recreational opportunities available at the state's parks, lakes, forests, and wilderness areasFurnishes information on nearly 1,000 towns and cities with directions to specific sitesContains short essays on the state's natural beauty and its colorful past, including Indians, railroads, caves, cemeteries, post offices, and the Civil WarProvides detailed indexes Read Less