Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Excelsior Springs (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Hall of Waters, The Elms Historic District, and Wyman School. Also, be sure to include First Methodist Church in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Excelsior Springs (Missouri).
Table of Contents
Hall of Waters
Museum in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Hall of Waters, also known as Siloam Park and Springs, is a historic building located at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri. It is the site of the first spring of many discovered in Excelsior Springs in the 1880s and 1890s. It was built as a mineral water health resort, with mineral baths and water bottling plant, capturing water from the springs.
It was designed by the architectural firm Keene & Simpson and built in 1936-37 as Public Works Administration Project #5252. It is a five level, reinforced concrete "T"-shaped building with strong Art Deco and Depression Modern features. It features a decorative boiler stack tower with cast stone and an aluminum cap 30 feet high.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It is located in the Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial East Historic District. In 2020, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named it as one of America's most endangered historic places. It is currently used as city offices.[1]
Address: 201 E Broadway St, 64024-2564 Excelsior Springs
The Elms Historic District
The Elms Historic District is a national historic district located at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri, United States. It encompasses 31 contributing buildings, 1 contributing site, and 7 contributing structures in a predominantly residential section of Excelsior Springs. The district developed between about 1887 and 1963, and includes representative examples of Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, and Bungalow style architecture. It is anchored by the separately listed Elms Hotel and consists of two historic residential plats: the Central Park and the Elms Addition.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.[2]
Wyman School
School in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Wyman School, also known as Excelsior Springs High School, is a historic school building located at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri. It was built in 1912, and is a three-story, rectangular brick building with Classical Revival design elements. It has a flat roof and sits in a limestone foundation. Also on the property is the contributing power plant and a classroom annex.
After classes ended, the building was used as a community theatre before becoming vacant. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[3]
First Methodist Church
Church in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. First Methodist Church, also known as Mt. Zion Methodist Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church, and Marietta Baptist Church, is a historic Methodist church located at 114 N. Marietta Street in Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri. It was built in 1948, and incorporated portions of the existing 1903 Gothic Revival style church. The interior is based on the Akron Plan. The church features square tower pavilions topped by large octagonal cupolas supported by buttresses.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[4]
Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial East Historic District
Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial East Historic District is a national historic district located at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri. It encompasses 24 contributing buildings and 2 contributing structures in the central business district of Excelsior Springs. The district developed between about 1894 and 1948, and includes representative examples of Victorian architecture. The central feature of the district, the separately listed Hall of Waters, is a five level, Art Deco / Depression Modern style reinforced concrete building. Other notable buildings include the Flanders Dry Goods Store, A.M. Howard Drug Store, Clay County State Bank, The Huey Building, Oriental Bazaar Gift Store, The Excelsior Baths and Broadway Rooms, Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge Hall, The Kennedy Building, First National Bank Building, The Francis Hotel, and The Auditorium.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[5]
Ligon Apartments
Ligon Apartments, also known as Udell Apartments, is a historic apartment building located at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri. It was built in 1917, and is a 2 1/2-story, red brick colonnade apartment building. It features a two-story porch with a low pitched hipped roof supported by four square brick columns. The Ligon Apartments provided residential space for those visiting Excelsior Springs for an extended period of time in order to "take the waters" at the town's multiple mineral springs.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.[6]
Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial West Historic District
Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial West Historic District is a national historic district located at Excelsior Springs, Clay County, Missouri. It encompasses 20 contributing buildings in the central business district of Excelsior Springs. The district developed between about 1894 and 1948, and includes representative examples of Victorian, Classical Revival, and Art Deco style architecture. Notable buildings include the Excelsior Springs Post Office, McCleary Thornton-Minor Hospital, Montgomery Ward Building, J.J. Newberry Company Building, J.C. Penney Company Building, Elks Lodge No. 1001, Washington Hotel and Orpheus Theatre, I.O.O.F. Building, Arlington Hotel, and Ideal Hotel.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[7]