"Historic Lexington, Missouri" Lexington by basstbn

Lexington, Missouri, lies on the mighty Missoui River less than an hour east of Kansas City. It was the site of an early battle in the American Civil War for supremacy in Missouri.

It is a nice destination for those interested in history or antique shopping.

Witnin a very short drive of downtown Lexington is the battlefield site, itself. (Actually - you can see battle landmarks on Main Street itself, including a cannon ball still imbedded in the county court house.) Located at the battle field site are this visitor's center with exhibits, the battlements themselves, and the lovely 1853 Anderson House, the focal point of the fighting.

I highly recommend that your visit to Lexington coincide with one of the special events at the Battle Site Park or in the town. Mine was scheduled during a living history exhibition of the Occupation by Federal Troops.

See my travelogue (in several sections) of this event.

Being one of Missouri's older towns, and a prosperous business center in the 1840s and 1850s, there are a number of fine ante bellum mansions to be seen. You can arrange a tour through the visitor's bureau, or as a second choice just drive around town and see a lot of homes. Better to take a tour if you can. See my travelogue of old homes, all built in the 1840s and 50s.

• Pros:Interesting old town with history and antique shops
• Cons:Not much to see at battle ground on most days.
• In a nutshell:Nice day trip from Kansas City - best seen during special events.