"Fulton, Missouri" Fulton by basstbn

I wonder how many travelers, intent on reaching their destinations of Kansas City or St. Louis, realize what a historical treasure can be found just a few miles south of Interstate 70 in Fulton, Missouri.

It was in this tiny town, at the dedication of a rebuilt London church, that Winston Churchill first coined the phrase "Iron Curtain" in a memorable speech. I encourage you to take a couple of hours to visit this quaint town, the Christopher Wren Church, and the Churchill monuments and museum.

Symbol of the Iron Curtain

The Berlin Wall was for years a symbol of the Iron Curtain dividing east from west. This sculpture "Breakthrough" by Churchill's granddaughter Edwina Sandys, is created from a section of the Berlin Wall, and now resides on the campus of Westminster College, only a few feet from the church where Churchill gave his historic speech.

Court Street, Fulton, Missouri

There are a few towns scattered across the middle of America that have had the good sense to maintain their downtown areas and to avoid added faux modern exteriors to their buildings. The architecture of the 1880s and 1890s was far more appealing than of the 1950s and 60s. Often, these towns designate their center to be the Historic Downtown District.

Fulton's downtown is a pleasant place to take a stroll, and you can count on the locals to greet you in passing.

• In a nutshell:Interesting town with ties to world history