FULL AND HALF-DAY TRIPS

  Outside of Boonville

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• Barn Quilts – See Rails, Trails & River Museum, Cooper County Historical Society, Friends of Historic Boonville or the Chamber of Commerce for tour map

• Cooper County Cemeteries (See tour map here)

• Cooper County Churches (See tour map here)

• New Lebanon Presbyterian Church, school, cemetery, Uncle Abe’s Store Mid 1800’s structures in excellent condition

• Old Schools - New Lebanon, Lamine and Dick’s Mill (See more about schools here)

• Cotton - Dick’s School – one of three remaining one room schools in Cooper County and the only remaining mill (Dick’s Mill) in Cooper County

• Last Remaining Stage Coach Stop in the County – on Route 5 between Billingsville and the Petite Saline River

• Santa Fe Trail Head Park in New Franklin

• Boonslick State Park with the Salt Lick

• Pilot Grove - Mt. Nebo Baptist Church; Old Jail and City Hall, City Park – history of Harriman’s Mill and original Millstone; Rural Pilot Grove -  Pleasant Green Plantation, Methodist Church and Cemetery; Burwood and Crestmede

• Tour of Burwood - Hwy 135 by appointment 660-834-3406

• KATY Trail bike trail.

• Brownfield Roadside Park on old Highway 50. Historical Marker overlooking the area of Jesse James train robbery.

• Warm Springs Ranch Home of Budweiser Clydesdales (off of Interstate 70) Visit Warm Springs Ranch to book your tour

• Blackwater - Mid-Missouri Museum of Independent Telephone Pioneers                         

  • A museum showcases a unique collection of telephone equipment and memorabilia. It is housed in a beautiful building that was originally the Bank of Blackwater. Also visit the ”Depot” train  station, now the community center, and the old hotel and restaurant. There are a few antique and trendy shops along the very attractive Main Street. A charming step back in time.

• Arrow Rock – This lovely little river town was once part of Cooper County and was very instrumental in the early settling and development of the County. A corner of the site still overlaps into Cooper County. It features an excellent historical museum, and the old Huston “tavern” still in operation, plus a variety of State Historic Site: Arrow Rock State Historic Site

There are many short trips to take in the Boonville area, but also many things that could turn into a full day trip by visiting several unrelated places out in the County.  Here is a suggestion for a full day trip: (But bring your own lunch)

1. Take Highway 5 South out of Boonville. Cross I-70 and take Highway 5 towards Billingsville. About 2 ½ miles from I-70, you will see a sign for Billingsville. Turn left, then right and you will see St. John’s United Church of Christ (1866) and the well-kept cemetery. 

2. Return to Route 5 (South) and in less than 1/8 mile, on the right side of route 5, you will see a small stone building with a wooden door. This is the last remaining stage stop in Cooper County (1860). Shortly past the stage stop is a bridge over the Petite Saline River. As you drive over it, imagine that you are driving through the long covered wooden bridge that was once spanned the river there. 

3. Continue on Route 5, heading south, and in about 31/2 miles, on the right, you will see a sign for Bellair. Look right, through the trees, and you will see the yellow Pauley house, then on the right side you will see the Bellair Methodist Church (1860) with its beautiful stained-glass window. Across from the church is the Leonard home, (1913) which was once a school. Soon after the Leonard home, on the left of the highway, you will see the magnificent Ravenswood mansion, which is no longer open to visitors.

4. Continue south until you see a sign on the right for the Hannah Cole Roadside Park and Briscoe cemetery. This is the burial place of Hannah Cole and some of her family.

5. Return to route 5 and turn right onto Highway E. You will pass the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church (1856).

6. At the intersection of E and A, turn left onto Route A, which will take you past Crestmede (1865) and into New Lebanon. Here you will see the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1860), Uncle Abe’s Country Store (1926), the New Lebanon School (1889) and the New Lebanon cemetery. All are in perfect condition.

7. Continue on A to Otterville where there is a Civil War site along the railroad tracks at the Conservation Center.

8. At Otterville pick up Route BB towards Clifton City. BB turns into Route 135. On 135 you will see Burwood (1880) which offers tours, and Pleasant Green Plantation (1820).

9. Continue on 135 through Pilot Grove, which is now the second largest town in Cooper County. Pilot Grove is also the home of the CCHS. Stop in on Friday from 9-12 PM. Also see our Barn Quilt and visit our research center. Email us for an appointment:  cchs2016@iland.net See the old Calaboose jail.

10. Continue on 135 until you reach Hwy 70 and as you return, remember the great time you had exploring a part of Cooper County!

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HISTORICAL/MEMORIAL MARKERS IN COOPER COUNTY

• Hannah Cole gravesite at Briscoe Cemetery and Park maintained by Hannah Cole DAR (Route 5 and E) near Bellair

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CIVIL WAR SITES

• Civil War sites and markers (see list and description at the end of the Civil War website section)

• Hannah Cole Fort Area and 1st Battle of Boonville Site, Rural Boonville, June 17, 1861

• DNR Marker at Missouri Correctional Center the first land battle of the Civil War in Missouri

• DNR marker at Lyon’s Park in Pilot Grove - July 1861, Also raid by ”Bloody Bill” Anderson

• Marker at Thespian Hall – Second Battle of Boonville

• Sunset Hill Cemetery Boonville – mass grave of 8 Union soldiers

• Wilkin’s Bridge near Billingsville General J.O. Shelby and General Sanborn violent battle October 1864

• Otterville Trenches – December 1861 – May 1865