Discover Kirksville: Culture, Lake and Trails

Kirksville combines vivid cultural history with open trails, unusual audio tours and the natural experience of Forest Lake. Anyone planning a trip can choose between museum visits, exploring on foot, activities on the water and seasonal events. This makes the town interesting for families in which not everyone wants to spend the same day of their holiday in the same way: culture, exercise and relaxing hours by the lake can be considered as different focal points.

Cultural History with Unique Original Artifacts

The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine is dedicated to the development of osteopathy from its beginnings in Kirksville to the present day. Its collections comprise more than 100,000 objects, photographs, documents and books. The holdings range from the early 19th century to the present day, with a particular focus on the years 1870 to 1940. The two-story atrium also houses the birthplace log cabin of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917), the founder of osteopathy, as well as the original two-room teaching building of the American School of Osteopathy, founded in 1892.

Another cultural attraction is the Ruth W. Towne Museum. It presents multimedia exhibitions across an area of approximately 3,000 square feet and is open for viewing to the general public as well as all visitors to the Truman State University campus. For a trip with different interests, this museum area can provide a quiet, in-depth program item, while other family members may prefer a walk or an outdoor tour.

Experience Kirksville on Foot and at Your Own Pace

Kirksville’s free, podcast-style audio tours are available through the TravelStorys app. Stories are triggered automatically by GPS as soon as visitors reach a location. This allows the tour to be explored on foot at your own pace. In total, it highlights 100 attractions, with historical stories told for 36 of them. This gives a walk through Kirksville a narrative framework without requiring you to adjust to the pace of a fixed guided tour.

In addition, designated trails run throughout Kirksville. They offer safe, scenic routes for hikers and cyclists. For families with different age groups, the ability to organize the day’s itinerary at their own pace provides helpful guidance when planning a trip.

Water, Forest and Petroglyphs in Thousand Hills State Park

Thousand Hills State Park is located on Forest Lake and is characterized by wooded shores and extensive savannas. A paved boat ramp provides access to Forest Lake and is located near the park’s dining lodge. The lake offers opportunities for fishing, water skiing, canoeing and motorboating. There is also a free swimming beach along the shore.

The region’s history is also present in the park. An information pavilion explains petroglyphs created by the inhabitants of this region more than 1,500 years ago. This allows a day by the water to be complemented by a cultural focus. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore first decide whether you want to get to know Kirksville primarily through museums and audio tours or focus your stay mainly on nature, water and the landscape of the state park. The holiday apartment or holiday home should suit this desired pace of travel without assuming any specific amenities.

Music, Market and Events

Recurring and one-off events are part of the local atmosphere. The “Summer on the Square” concert series takes place every Friday evening from June to August on the lawn of the Adair County Courthouse in downtown Kirksville. The Kirksville Kiwanis Farmers’ Market offers local food and handmade goods on Saturdays from May to October, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in the Kirksville, Missouri area. The juried Red Barn Festival is a one-day event in downtown featuring food, art, awards and entertainment.

These offerings emphasize different aspects: The Farmers’ Market is part of the morning, the concert series belongs to summer evenings, and the Red Barn Festival brings together several program items in one day. The planned travel period can therefore also play a role when searching for accommodation in Kirksville. As another place to compare, you can also take a look at Millard.

For the higher-level travel overview: Adair County.