The Missouri Tourism News Bureau has compiled a series of multimedia evergreen news releases for journalists to use as story starters. Check back frequently as we continue to add new offerings to this series.

Route 66

Relive the heyday of Route 66 as you journey down Missouri's 280-mile stretch of the Mother Road, now Interstate 44. From St. Louis to Joplin, experience a genuine slice of Americana with stops at vintage cafes, historic motels and quirky roadside attractions.

Missouri's Civil War

The Civil War was especially brutal in Missouri. Although Missouri did not secede from the Union, as the only state north of the Mason-Dixon Line where the law allowed slavery, Missouri was the focal point of the Civil War west of the Mississippi River. Missouri endured more than 1,000 battles and engagements during the Civil War – more than any other state except Virginia and Tennessee.

African-American History

From an innovative musical style to a revolution in agricultural management, Missouri’s African-American population has made invaluable contributions not only in Missouri but nationwide. Historic sites, museums, schools, homes and cultural centers across the state recognize and celebrate the influence and contributions made by African-Americans and remind us of their historical legacy.

Missouri Caves

Missouri has earned the nickname the “Cave State,” boasting more than 5,500 surveyed caves showcasing Mother Nature’s work. From Meramec Caverns to Fantastic Caverns, thousands of years combined with seeping water formed fantastic mineral creations including towering columns to intricately woven draperies of rock.