Excelsior Springs combines the history of its mineral waters with cultural attractions, parkland, and other interests such as golf and wine. Local highlights range from the Hall of Waters and museum collections to a spring pagoda, a hiking trail, and wine tastings. Alongside its mineral water heritage, the area also offers distinct cultural and natural attractions.
Mineral Water History and Museum
The Hall of Waters was built in 1935 as a WPA project and served as the central distribution point for the various mineral waters of Excelsior Springs. The Hall of Waters Museum offers detailed information about each type of water, spring, and well. The collections of the Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives also document the history of the mineral waters. The museum’s subject matter ranges from individual springs and wells to the broader historical development.
The collections and archives of the Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives are housed in the former Clay County State Bank building and the adjoining Francis Hotel. Museum volunteers lead tours of the historic bank, Francis Hall, and the exhibits. The museum’s connection to local history thus includes both specific collection sites and tour stops. The history of the collections can be understood differently from the information at the Hall of Waters Museum: the latter focuses on mineral waters and their springs, while the former also covers collections, buildings, and exhibits.
Fishing River Linear Park and Nature
The Hall of Waters Historic District includes Fishing River Linear Park. The Superior Well Pagoda is part of this park and is the only intact spring pagoda in Excelsior Springs. A historic district, a park, and a distinctive structure built around a spring are thus connected. The pagoda offers a specific point of reference if you are interested in the connection between local history and mineral water.
The trail in Fishing River Linear Park is 0.7 miles long. Within the city limits, there are more than 90 acres of parkland and trails; Isley Park Woods is a “Missouri Natural Area.” The landscape of Excelsior Springs includes hills, valleys, rivers, and waterfalls. Nature-related attractions thus range from a precisely measured trail to a broader landscape description and designated parkland. The trail length and the citywide acreage describe different scales.
Golf, Hotel History, and Wine
The Excelsior Springs Golf Course opened in October 1915, when an 18-hole championship course was completed. The walnut cabin of pioneer settler Edwin O’Dell, dating from 1825, has been preserved in the clubhouse dining area. Thus, alongside the history of the golf course is an older artifact from the settlement era. The present-day Elms Hotel opened on September 7, 1912. Fence Stile offers wine tastings.
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