Kirksville: Birthplace of osteopathy; the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine holds Dr. A.T. Still's birthplace log cabin and the original 1892 American School of Osteopathy classroom building. Below are 9 places to visit, each read on its own official or visitor-bureau page.Facts read October 30, 2026 from the pages linked beside each one. Hours and prices change; confirm before you drive. Region is our own county grouping.
- North MissouriRegion
- Adair CountyCounty
- 9Places to See
- 1Place Pages Here
Why Go to Kirksville
- Birthplace of osteopathy; the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine holds Dr. A.T. Still's birthplace log cabin and the original 1892 American School of Osteopathy classroom building. (visitkirksville.com)
- Site of the 1862 Battle of Kirksville, which the city page says secured northern Missouri for the Union. (visitkirksville.com)
- Home to Truman State University, with free concerts, a gallery and an observatory open on select dates. (visitkirksville.com)
- Thousand Hills State Park, centered on Forest Lake, sits at a Kirksville address. (mostateparks.com)
See and Do
| Place | What It Is | Hours or Price as Printed |
|---|---|---|
| Thousand Hills State Park | Lake park with beach, boating, fishing, trails, camping, cabins, a lodge and a petroglyph shelter. | Hours and fees not on page; office 660-665-6995 |
| Native American Petroglyph Shelter | Sheltered exhibit of rock carvings in Thousand Hills State Park with signs to help read the symbols. | not stated |
| Museum of Osteopathic Medicine | Traces osteopathy from Kirksville; 800 West Jefferson Street. | not stated |
| Adair County Historical Society Museum | Pioneer and military items, including a cannonball from the 1862 battle; 211 South Elson Street. | not stated |
| Battle of Kirksville and Forest Llewellyn Cemetery | Marks the 1862 battle; 201 N Centennial Street. | not stated |
| Kirksville Historic Site Free Self-Guided Audio Tour | GPS-triggered TravelStorys app tour of 100 locations, usable in any order. | Free; any time |
| Gallery 104 | Downtown shop of local and regional art and gifts at 104 N. Franklin St. | Thu-Fri 11-5, Sat 10-2 (as printed) |
| Kirksville Arts Association and Sue Ross Arts Center | Classes, workshops, art shows; 1902 S. Baltimore, Suite 100. | not stated |
| Ruth Towne Museum, Truman State University | Exhibits on the university, Kirksville and Missouri history. | not stated |
Place Pages on This Site
A Little History
- American School of Osteopathy was founded in 1892 in Kirksville. (visitkirksville.com)
- The Battle of Kirksville occurred in 1862. (visitkirksville.com)
Events in Kirksville
- Summer on the Square concerts: Friday nights, June through August (visitkirksville.com)
- Kiwanis Farmers' Market: Saturdays May through October, 7 am to noon (visitkirksville.com)
- Red, White and Blue Festival: Independence Day (visitkirksville.com)
- NEMO Fair: week-long, mid-July (visitkirksville.com)
- Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival: February (visitkirksville.com)
- Missouri Livestock Symposium: December (visitkirksville.com)
- Hometown Holiday and Kiwanis Christmas Parade: holiday season, no date printed (visitkirksville.com)
Getting There
- On US 63, with Highways 6 and 11 and US 36 close to the north. (visitkirksville.com)
- Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK) has Contour Airlines service to Chicago O'Hare per the page. (visitkirksville.com)
- Nearest Amtrak station is La Plata, about 12 miles south (Southwest Chief). (visitkirksville.com)
- Distances printed: Columbia 88 mi, Kansas City 156 mi, St. Louis 192 mi. (visitkirksville.com)
Plan Your Visit
| Visitor Information | visitkirksville.com |
|---|---|
| Visitor Center Address | 315 S. South Franklin Street, Kirksville, MO 63501 |
| Phone | 660-665-2003 |
| Drive Times | Missouri drive times |
| Events Nearby | North Missouri events |
More
What We Could Not Verify
Not confirmed
- Population (Census blocked)
- Museum hours and prices
- kirksvillemo.com returned empty
- Our region grouping is not an official designation.
Questions People Ask
What is Kirksville, Missouri known for?
Birthplace of osteopathy; the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine holds Dr. A.T. Still's birthplace log cabin and the original 1892 American School of Osteopathy classroom building.
How do I get to Kirksville?
On US 63, with Highways 6 and 11 and US 36 close to the north.
Where can I find visitor information for Kirksville?
The visitor site we read is visitkirksville.com. The address it prints is 315 S. South Franklin Street, Kirksville, MO 63501.
What are the main things to see in Kirksville?
Thousand Hills State Park, Native American Petroglyph Shelter, Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, Adair County Historical Society Museum are the first four on the list above.
Sources
- kirksvillemo.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitkirksville.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitkirksville.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitkirksville.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitkirksville.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitkirksville.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitkirksville.com, read October 30, 2026
- mostateparks.com, read October 30, 2026
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: Kirksville, itsmissouri.com (https://itsmissouri.com/destinations/kirksville-missouri/), checked 2026-10-30. Free to quote with a link.