A former railroad corridor, a 19th-century depot and contemporary art offer different ways to experience Pettis County. Prairie wildflowers, rare species, fishing waters and the Missouri State Fair add nature and events to the mix. You can choose the focus that will shape your trip most.
Railroad Traces
The Katy Trail State Park reaches Sedalia in Pettis County along the corridor of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as the Katy. Railroad operations on this Missouri route ended in 1986. The trail’s name thus refers to the railroad’s former name.
The Sedalia Katy Depot is part of the railroad heritage: it was built in 1896 along the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line and fully restored in 2001. Today, the Katy Depot houses a museum and gift shop. Together with the Sedalia Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, it serves as an Affiliate Missouri Welcome Center, where visitors can get maps, brochures and directions. At the Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site, the Radiant Trail offers challenging opportunities for hiking or mountain biking.
Art, Family History and the Fair
The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on contemporary art. Each year, it hosts three exhibition cycles with up to 15 exhibitions across nine galleries on three levels. The permanent exhibition includes more than 1,500 works of art by prominent artists from the past 50 years. The museum thus showcases both changing exhibitions and a collection featuring works from that period.
The Pettis County Historical Society & Museum in Sedalia uses census data to help visitors explore their family and community histories. The Missouri State Fair also has its own museum in Sedalia: the Missouri State Fair Museum features exhibits and memorabilia related to the fair, including an exhibit about the Missouri State Fair Queen.
Held every August, the Missouri State Fair offers visitors educational and recreational activities, a midway and musical entertainment. The Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia cover 396 acres. If you want to include the fair in your trip plans, check the specific event dates.
Prairie and Habitats
Prairie wildflowers bloom at Paintbrush Prairie from spring through fall, including pale purple and yellow coneflowers—unusual colors for a prairie. Paint Brush Prairie is also home to two other plants of conservation concern and the rare Northern Crawfish Frog.
The Friendly Prairie Conservation Area is a 40-acre remnant of an original prairie. It is owned by the Missouri Prairie Foundation and jointly managed with the Conservation Department. At the J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area, the landscape ranges from wooded hills and bottomlands to farmland and areas with native grasses. The area also has two fishing lakes, created in 2000, covering nine and 25 acres, respectively. The difference in size between the two bodies of water is clear: the larger lake is 16 acres bigger.
Open Spaces in Sedalia
Sedalia’s park system is another specific open-space option: it includes more than 300 acres of parkland and seven parks. Together with the conservation areas and seasonal prairie blooms, it offers more than just one nature-focused option for your trip planning.
Discover more destinations: Sedalia, Oregon County, Camden County, Ste. Genevieve County, Clay, New Madrid County, Crawford County, Scott County.
For the broader travel overview: Missouri.
