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Excelsior Springs, Missouri

Everything Excelsior Springs is known for

1 song mention this city

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Music in Excelsior Springs

Songs About Excelsior Springs

the ghost of jesse james
brandon jenkins
10%

Artists From Excelsior Springs

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Rivers & Roads in Song near Excelsior Springs

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Excelsior Springs.

Missouri River 12 songs Interstate 35 45 songs US Route 71 2 songs U.S. Route 59 9 songs

History of Excelsior Springs

Independence, MO RoadyGoat

Independence, Missouri, sits at an elevation that offers long views across the plains, a fitting vista for a place that once saw wagon trains stretching to the horizon. You can still feel that nostalgic pull here, the echo of a time when this was the last outpost of civilization for those heading west. Known as the "Queen City of the Trails," it was a jumping-off point for dreams of new lives, a place where families gathered supplies and steeled their resolve before venturing into the unknown. That journey wasn't always easy; the 1827 flood, a major setback, delayed westward expansion for months. The spirit of Independence extends far beyond its historical role. Community of Christ, with roots deeply embedded in the city's history, maintains its headquarters here. And while healthcare and social assistance are now major employers, it’s perhaps the legacy of leadership and athletic prowess that truly stands out.

19.0 mi away

Independence, MO RoadyGoat

Independence, Missouri, maintains a strong connection to its past. It sits atop the rolling plains at over a thousand feet elevation, a vantage point that once offered pioneers their last glimpse of settled land before venturing west. The Community of Christ headquarters still stands here, a reminder of the city's religious heritage, and the name itself, taken from the Declaration, reinforces a sense of American identity. But even with its historical ambiance, the area felt a palpable shift recently with the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII victory. Though the team isn't based within Independence city limits, the win resonated deeply. For a region often overshadowed by larger metropolitan areas, the Chiefs' success brought a surge of civic pride. Conversations centered on the victory, the players, the economic boost it brought to the metro area, and the sense of unity it fostered. The win acted as a momentary unifier, a welcome distraction from the everyday concerns of healthcare, social assistance, and the echoes of past struggles, including the devastating flood of 1827 that temporarily stalled the westward movement this "Queen City of the Trails" once symbolized.

19.0 mi away

Jesse James Farm and Museum

1847

The Clay County farm where Jesse James was born and raised, and where his outlaw career was shaped by the violence of the Missouri-Kansas border wars.

6.1 mi away

Fort Osage National Historic Landmark

1808

The first U.S. military outpost in the Louisiana Purchase territory, established by William Clark on a Missouri River bluff as a government trading post with the Osage Nation.

11.2 mi away

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library

1957

The presidential library of Harry S. Truman in Independence, Missouri, where the 33rd president made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century.

19.6 mi away

Independence Square

1827

Independence served as the primary jumping-off point for the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails, outfitting hundreds of thousands of westward emigrants.

19.5 mi away

Things to Do in Excelsior Springs

food 24.1 mi away
Arthur Bryant's

The king of Kansas City BBQ since 1930. Presidents and celebrities line up for burnt ends.

Everything Near Excelsior Springs

19 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

  • The Elms Hotel and Spa · 0.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wondered what secrets a grand old hotel might hold? The Elms Hotel and Spa isn't just a luxurious escape; it's a portal to the past, brimming with history and whispers of the unexplained. Since its establishment in…

  • Hall of Waters · 1.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder what a health spa from the 1930s looks like? You're looking at it! This grand building, now City Hall, was once the famous Hall of Waters. Back in 1880, a farmer named Father John settled here, but it wasn't…

  • Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site · 4.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine a bustling, self-sufficient world springing to life from the Missouri prairie. That's Watkins Mill. In 1839, Waltus Watkins, an ambitious entrepreneur, began building his dream here. By the 1860s, it was a…

  • James Brothers' House and Farm · 5.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Hold on tight, you're about to visit the very ground where one of America's most infamous outlaws began his life: Jesse James' birthplace! Jesse Woodson James was born here in 1847. His family farmed this land, and the…

  • Jesse James Farm and Museum · 6.1 mi · Historical Marker

    The Clay County farm where Jesse James was born and raised, and where his outlaw career was shaped by the violence of the Missouri-Kansas border wars.

  • Fort Osage · 10.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder how the U.S. government first interacted with Native American tribes in this part of the frontier? This is the spot. In 1808, the U.S. government signed a treaty with the Osage Nation, promising them…

  • Fort Osage National Historic Landmark · 11.2 mi · Historical Marker

    The first U.S. military outpost in the Louisiana Purchase territory, established by William Clark on a Missouri River bluff as a government trading post with the Osage Nation.

  • Clay County Savings Association Building · 11.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine this: broad daylight, a bustling town, and a group of riders about to change history. This very spot marks the location of the Clay County Savings Association, site of one of the earliest documented daylight…

  • Ray County Poor Farm · 14.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder what happened to people who fell on hard times a century ago? You're about to drive past a place that tells that story: the Ray County Poor Farm. Built in 1909, it was once a refuge for the indigent, and now…

  • Dougherty Auditorium · 14.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wondered what it was like to catch a show in 1900s Missouri? This grand old building, the Dougherty Auditorium, can tell you a few tales! Built between 1900 and 1901, this two-story brick beauty, also known as the…

  • Vaile Mansion · 18.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wondered what it was like to be a Gilded Age mogul in Missouri? You're about to find out! Welcome to the Vaile Mansion, a breathtaking testament to ambition and elegance built in 1881. This architectural marvel was…

  • Independence, MO · 19.0 mi

    Independence, Missouri, sits at an elevation that offers long views across the plains, a fitting vista for a place that once saw wagon trains stretching to the horizon. You can still feel that nostalgic pull here, the…

Show all 19 nearby places
  • Harry S. Truman Historic District · 19.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine a president who preferred his modest Independence, Missouri home to the White House – that's Harry Truman, and you're driving through the heart of his world. This area isn't just a historic district; it's a…

  • Jackson County Jail and Marshal's House · 19.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine life inside this 1859 jail, which held prisoners during the Civil War era. This isn't just any old building, it's the Jackson County Jail, built in 1859. It served as the county jail for Jackson County,…

  • Independence Square · 19.5 mi · Historical Marker

    Independence served as the primary jumping-off point for the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails, outfitting hundreds of thousands of westward emigrants.

  • Jackson County Courthouse (Independence, Missouri) · 19.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Before he was president, Harry S. Truman shaped his political career right here as a county judge. This isn't just any old courthouse; it's where a future president got his start. In 1922, Truman won election as county…

  • Harry S. Truman Presidential Library · 19.6 mi · Historical Marker

    The presidential library of Harry S. Truman in Independence, Missouri, where the 33rd president made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century.

  • Harry S. Truman National Historic Site · 19.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wondered what it was like to live as an ordinary man who suddenly became President? Here, you can literally walk in his footsteps. This is the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, preserving the longtime home of…

  • Temple Lot · 19.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wondered if a simple patch of grass could hold the weight of an entire spiritual movement? Well, buckle up, because you're about to discover the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri. This unassuming plot of land is…

Explore Excelsior Springs on the Map
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