Lexington is where you can find ~

20+ Antique & Specialty shops
15+ Resturants & Taverns
10+ B&B's & Hotels
5+ Museums & Monuments

Which makes Lexington
1 Great place to visit

For more information click on the links to the right and below or request a visitor's packet by filling out the information on the Contact Us page.

Founded in 1822, Lexington’s growth has been influenced by the Missouri River - from William Jack who ran the first ferry in 1819, to the steamboats that brought in numerous supplies for the explorers and settlers bound for the West on the many wagon train routes originating in Lexington.

By 1830 Lexington was the largest and most important town west of St. Louis. The River, "the Highway to the West", and the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail were responsible for its development. Lexington was an important trading center and for many years the main outfitting center for the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. The riverfront was a busy place with stores, warehouses, factories, mills and docks for a hundred boats.

The proud history of this quiet, friendly town includes having been home to five colleges, site of a three-day Civil War battle, and an important port on the Missouri River. Lexington was the major outfitting stop for the Santa Fe Trail and home of Win. Russell and Win. Waddell of the famous freighting firm Russell, Majors and Waddell. Their famous westward freighting firm was headquartered in Lexington and they founded the Pony Express.

Lexington has progressed - yet the old is still here - the old buildings, over 100 of them within the Four Historic Districts that are on the National Register of Historic Places; the quiet tree lined streets where wagon trains rumbled through and ladies rode in their carriages; the battlefield that has been relatively undisturbed all of these years; and the County Courthouse that still conducts business as it did more than 157 years ago.

Lexington is well worth several days of investigation. Join us for a stroll through the past.

Lafayette County Courthouse - built in 1847-49 and the oldest courthouse in constant use west of the Mississippi. Many say this is the most beautiful of Missouri’s courthouses with its simple classic-revival design. A Civil War cannonball embedded in the east column is a relic of the Confederate victory in the 1861 Battle of Lexington. Tour the building and note the pressed tin ceiling and paintings depicting early scenes of Lafayette County. A historical marker is on the east lawn and on the north west corner is a Russell, Majors and Waddell Pony Express commemorative marker. The courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and open to the public.

Battle of Lexington historic site & Visitor's Center This battlefield is one of the few Civil War battlefields that has never been cultivated and the outlines of the trenches are still visible. A self-guided walking tour is available. The visitor center has a fine display of artifacts from the battle and an excellent 15 minute film which brings the "Battle of the Hemp Bales" to life. The visitor's center is open Mon thru Sat from 9 - 4:20 and on Sunday from 11:30 to 4:20. No charge.

Anderson House - located on the grounds on the Battle of Lexington Historic Site. It was built by Colonel Oliver Anderson in 1853 as a private home and has been beautifully restored and furnished with antiques of that period. The house was used as a field hospital during the battle changing from North to South three times. The house is considered very elegant for the period of construction. Guided tours are given on the hour. Admission charge.

		1830’s Log House - this original log house was used as a home or business by several of Lexington’s prominent early citizens and once was a tavern located on the Santa Fe Trail and overlooked the river front.

		Historic Homes Lexington has more pre-Civil War homes and commercial buildings (over 135),  per-capita, than any other community regardless of size, in the state of Missouri. Many of the homes are open for tours by appointment with the owner.

		Madonna of the Trail - the monument to pioneer women was presented to Lexington by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1928 with the then Jackson County Judge Harry S. Truman presiding at the ceremony. "Madonna of the Trail" is the story of the brave women who helped conquer the west and is one of 12 placed in every state crossed by the National Old Trails Road, the route of early settlers from Maryland to California.

Downtown Business District -listed on the National Register of Historic Places–where shop keepers and offices still do business in the same building that the early citizens of Lexington visited.

Antique and gift shops: the downtown business district is a haven for antique lovers; high-end European, American Primitive, Victorian, Eclectic, and Beautiful Italian Gifts & Antiques are all a part of the mix! People are truly amazed when they discover the quality, the diversity, and the quantity of beautiful merchandise located in this historic treasure-trove!

Old Neighborhoods Historic District - Main Street, Franklin Avenue and South Street from 13th to 20th Streets. Lined with antebellum homes dating from the 1830’s. You can enjoy the historic architecture on these tree lined streets where covered wagons and ladies in their carriages traveled long ago.

Linwood Lawn - this 26 room mansion remains much as it was when built in 1850 for $85,000. It included central heating, cooling and lighting and running water, rarities in that period. It has carved Italian marble mantels, silver lavatory fixtures and door knobs, and original chandeliers from the Crystal Palace Exhibition. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Tours are by appointment.

Machpelah Cemetery - established by an act of the Missouri General Assembly in 1849. It’s name comes from the Old Testament - 23rd chapter of Genesis and contains the graves of many early settlers, Confederate soldiers, prominent citizens and victims of the Steamboat SALUDA disaster in 1852.

Wentworth Military Academy - founded in 1880, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected military schools. The cadets come from all parts of the United States and many foreign countries. The WMA Campus area is one of our communities four historic districts. Tours are available by appointment.

Lexington Historical Museum - built as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1846. It now contains an extensive exhibit on the Pony Express, Civil War artifacts, coal mining display, exhibits on Wentworth Military Academy and a fine collection of old Lexington photographs. The Historical Museum is on the National Register. Renovation will soon begin in several phases on adding, among other things, a Lewis & Clark exhibit! There is a small admission charge for non-association members.