Natural and manmade masterpieces add stunning flair to meetings in Central Missouri. From Jefferson City and Columbia to Lake of the Ozarks, the heart of the state offers groups awesome discoveries on foot, bike, trolley or boat. With these six gateways to adventure, meeting planners can count on unforgettable experiences, elegant grandeur and lively art.
Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson City
The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City is home to a national art treasure, A Social History of Missouri, one of the most famous murals by American Regionalism painter Thomas Hart Benton. Completed in 1936, this fascinating masterpiece fills the House lounge with 13 vivid scenes of everyday people, history and legends of the state.
Also in the building, the Hall of Famous Missourians honors luminaries such as Walt Disney, Josephine Baker, Scott Joplin and Walter Cronkite. No wonder the tour is a stunning introduction to Jefferson City, which was named the Most Beautiful Small Town in America by Rand McNally in its 2013 contest Best of the Road.
“The entire building is full of rich architecture and beauty, including the grand staircase and rotunda chandelier,” says Katherine Reed, communications manager at the Jefferson City CVB.
The guided tour is free, accommodates up to 60 people and lasts an hour. Planners can request a docent-led tour of the Benton room itself, which is also open to the public on weekdays for self-guided visits.
Red Wheel Bike Shop, Jefferson City
Bike rentals are available for groups heading to Katy Trail State Park. This popular flat trail offers thrilling views of river bluffs and small-town Americana. Riders may even see a bald eagle or red-tailed hawk soaring overhead.
“The Katy Trail is king,” says Nick Smith, owner of Red Wheel Bike Shop, a Jefferson City-based outlet that offers tours and bike rentals, among other options. “If you’re in from out of town, it’s the best place to discover.”
From the shop, attendees can cross the Missouri River pedestrian bridge for a leisurely ride. Smith and his team help visitors select the right bike, recommend trails, provide maps and are available to lead group rides.
Red Wheel is adjacent to The Millbottom event center, making post-meeting rides convenient for attendees. Smith suggests a maximum of eight people per group.
The Tiger Trolley, Columbia
Longtime Columbia residents Cindy Mustard and Jolene Schulz, owners of the Tiger Trolley, enjoy offering guided tours based on special interests, such as spring garden tours or their Haunted Columbia tour.
They also feature a cultural arts tour that lets groups explore outdoor public art, the eclectic North Village Arts District and the University of Missouri’s Museum of Art & Archaeology.
“The trolley’s cultural arts tour really stands out, because art is a sweet spot for Columbia,” says Megan McConachie, marketing and communications manager at the Columbia CVB. “If you bring your group downtown, you’re going to satisfy your foodies, art lovers and history lovers, and all within a very nice walking distance.”
The Tiger Trolley accommodates up to 24 people and tours usually last two hours. The company can accommodate larger groups with additional vehicles.
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Walters-Boone County Historical Museum and Galleries, Columbia
Columbia’s Walters-Boone County Historical Museum and Galleries features multiple venues, including the Village at Boone Junction in Nifong Park. Guided group tours offer a ticket to the past, as the site brings together historic buildings from throughout Boone County and mid-Missouri. Formerly at risk for demolition, each structure is over 100 years old. Highlights include a log cabin, country store and a home with shotgun-style architecture.
It also includes the Walters-Boone County History Museum.
“The Boone history museum allows groups to step back into a different time,” says the Columbia CVB’s McConachie. “It has a charming local flavor, and you can see the history that Boone County and Columbia have come up through.”
Along with the tour, planners can book indoor and outdoor receptions at the museum and galleries. Options include the use of a 4,000-square-foot art gallery, covered veranda and a gazebo that can accommodate up to 100 people.
Celebration Cruises, Lake of the Ozarks
The 80-foot luxury yacht Celebration shows groups why USA Today readers this July voted Lake of the Ozarks the Best Recreational Lake in the U.S. With space for 140 people, the Celebration offers scenic journeys on the 55,000-acre lake.
“Whether it’s a narrated tour, banquet or party, we’re here to let groups enjoy themselves on the lake,” says Shona Marshall, charter cruise director. “On our private charter guests like how we accommodate special requests and put their minds at ease.”
The Celebration can be used as a floating presentation room one day and a breezy party venue the next. The ship features two levels of indoor and outdoor seating, food and beverage service, a sound system and support for PowerPoint presentations. Marshall helps planners coordinate every aspect of their events, and captains offer commentary about attractions and scenery.
Celebration Cruises can coordinate transport to and from the yacht’s departure point at Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Lake of the Ozarks
At Ha Ha Tonka State Park, groups can explore 15 miles of winding trails around the Lake of the Ozarks, peer into caves or explore the stone ruins of a turn-of-the-20th century castle atop a towering bluff. For groups arriving by boat, the park has two docks on the cove.
Upon request, park naturalist Larry Webb plans and leads interpretative tours that he personalizes for each group. The castle is a popular choice, as is a natural bridge that reaches more than 100 feet into the air.
Two pavilions with electricity can be reserved by groups, including one near a historic post office that accommodates up to 100 and has two grills and eight picnic tables. For groups of up to 60, the pavilion by the lake has one grill and five tables.
MARIA TONGE has traveled Missouri’s waterways by steamboat, canoe and inner tube.
