Lexington: The city says its 1847 Greek Revival courthouse is the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Mississippi. Below are 8 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.
- Kansas City AreaRegion
- 4,602 (as printed by the city)Population (2023)
- 8Places to See
- 1Place Pages Here
Why Go to Lexington
- The city says its 1847 Greek Revival courthouse is the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Mississippi. (lexingtonmo.gov)
- A cannonball hole from the 1861 Battle of Lexington is still visible in a courthouse column, per Visit MO. (visitmo.com)
- The Battle of Lexington State Historic Site preserves the Oliver Anderson House and a battlefield with visible trenches. (lexingtonmo.gov)
- The city says more than 150 pre-Civil War homes and public buildings still stand, with tours offered. (lexingtonmo.gov)
- The Lexington chamber lists four historic districts with self-guided audio tours. (historiclexington.com)
See and Do
| Place | What It Is | Hours or Price as Printed |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Lexington State Historic Site and Anderson House | Civil War site where tours cover the Anderson House and the battlefield. | Visitor center free; tours adults $6, youth (6-17) $4, 5 and under free; hours not stated |
| Lafayette County Courthouse | 1847 Greek Revival courthouse with a Civil War cannonball mark. | Open year-round; Free; hours not stated |
| Lexington Historical Museum | Displays on the Mulligan sword, Pony Express, steamboats, coal mining and Wentworth Military Academy. | 1 to 4 p.m. Wed to Sun (museums page) vs Sat to Sun 1 to 4 p.m. (must-see page); price not stated |
| Wentworth Military Museum | Exhibits covering 137 years of the military academy's history. | Hours on Facebook per the page; not stated |
| Madonna of the Trail | 1928 monument to pioneer women, one of 12 on the National Old Trails Road. | not stated |
| Riverfront Park | City park with river views, picnic shelter, boat launch and historical marker. | not stated |
| Self-guided audio tours of four historic districts | 1 to 1.8 mile tours of Highland Avenue, Downtown, Battlefield/Wentworth and Old Neighborhoods districts. | No price stated; maps downloadable |
| Crystal Lake Park | Small park with a lake walking trail and picnic tables. | not stated |
Place Pages on This Site
A Little History
- Platted in 1822 near William Jack's Ferry and made county seat in 1823, per the city. (lexingtonmo.gov)
- The city says Wentworth Military Academy opened in 1880 and describes it as the oldest military school west of the Mississippi. (lexingtonmo.gov)
- The Battle of Lexington in 1861 lasted three days and centered on the Anderson House. (mostateparks.com)
Events in Lexington
- Second Sundays downtown: Monthly, 11 AM to 4 PM on 10th Street between Main and Franklin (2026 dates listed June to September) (historiclexington.com)
Coming Up Near Lexington
Nothing on our checked calendar yet. We list only events whose dates an organizer has published. See all Missouri events.
Getting There
- About 15 minutes from I-70 and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Kansas City International Airport; Missouri Highways 13 and 24 serve the city; rail service and river access. (lexingtonmo.gov)
- The state parks site calls the battlefield one of the closest Civil War sites to Interstate 70. (mostateparks.com)
Plan Your Visit
| Visitor Information | historiclexington.com |
|---|---|
| Visitor Center Address | Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, 1016 Main Street, Lexington, MO 64067 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm) |
| Phone | 660-259-3082 |
| Drive Times | Missouri drive times |
| Events Nearby | Kansas City Area events |
More
What We Could Not Verify
Not confirmed
- visitlexingtonmo.com redirects to an unrelated brewery domain; skipped (the city links visitlexingtonmo.org, whose content pages load via script and showed no listings)
- Event dates beyond Second Sundays
- Lexington Historical Museum address/hours conflict (two chamber pages disagree)
- Battle site visitor center hours
- Our region grouping is not an official designation.
Questions People Ask
What is Lexington, Missouri known for?
The city says its 1847 Greek Revival courthouse is the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Mississippi.
How do I get to Lexington?
About 15 minutes from I-70 and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Kansas City International Airport; Missouri Highways 13 and 24 serve the city; rail service and river access.
Where can I find visitor information for Lexington?
The visitor site we read is historiclexington.com. The address it prints is Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, 1016 Main Street, Lexington, MO 64067 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm).
What are the main things to see in Lexington?
Battle of Lexington State Historic Site and Anderson House, Lafayette County Courthouse, Lexington Historical Museum, Wentworth Military Museum are the first four on the list above.
Sources
- lexingtonmo.gov, read October 30, 2026
- lexingtonmo.gov, read October 30, 2026
- visitmo.com, read October 30, 2026
- mostateparks.com, read October 30, 2026
- mostateparks.com, read October 30, 2026
- historiclexington.com, read October 30, 2026
- historiclexington.com, read October 30, 2026
- historiclexington.com, read October 30, 2026
- historiclexington.com, read October 30, 2026
- visitlexingtonmo.org, read October 30, 2026
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: Lexington, itsmissouri.com (https://itsmissouri.com/destinations/lexington-missouri/), checked 2026-10-30. Free to quote with a link.