Columbia (Missouri)

Columbia was founded in 1821, not far from the Missouri River. It was originally an agricultural town, but it has become an importent trade center of central Missouri's farm and coal region.

There is some light manufacturing, but the city is best known as the seat of the University of Missouri and Stephens College. The city serves as medical center for the entire region. It has a university hospital, a state cancer hospital, a state regional mental health center and a veterans' hospital.

There are numerous buildings in Columbia that date from the 1820s. Most buildings in Columbia are relatively low, although many high-rise skyscrapers have gone up since the start of the 21st century.

Points of interest

The Avenue of the Columns, or 8th Street, forms Columbia's center. It connects Francis Quadrangle and Jesse Hall with the Boone County Courthouse and City Hall. The building was restored and enlarged in 2011.
The Boone County Courthouse was built between 1906 and 1906. It is located at 705 E. Walnut Street.
City Hall is also known as the Daniel Boone Building. It was built in 1917 to serve as a hotel, but it has been home to the city hall since 1972.
Columbia Agriculture Park is home to Columbia Farmers Market that contains a pavilion with space for 98 vendors. The focus is on locally produced food and agricultural products.
Columbia Public Library was originally founded in 1922. In 2002, it was moved into a new building at 100 West Broadway and Garth Street.
Columbia Railroad Station is also known as Wabash Station. The historic train station was built in 1909 and restored in 2007. It houses the headquarters of Columbia Transit. It is located in the North Village Arts District.
David R. Francis Quadrangle is the historical center of the University of Missouri. It is colloquially known as 'The Quad' and at its center are 6 Ionic columns. They are all that remains of the original university building known as Academic Hall, which was completed in 1843 and destroyed by fire in 1892. The original tombstone of Thomas Jefferson, in the form of an obelisk, stands in front of the Chancellor's Residence. Another obelisk that commemorates Missouri's first U.S. senator David Barton can be seen nearby.
Jesse Hall was originally called the New Academic Hall. It was built in 1895 to replace the original Academic Hall, which was destroyed by fire and it was renamed Jesse Hall in 1922 in honour of retiring University President Richard Henry Jesse. Its dome dominates the skyline and rises 55 m (180 ft) above the surrounding area. The 6 remaining columns of the original Academic Hall stand in front of it. Jesse Hall is the main administration building for the University of Missouri.
Memorial Union is the community center for the University of Missouri. It features meeting rooms and dining facilities. Numerous special events are organized there. The facility was constructed between 1923 and 1963 and it features an iconic bell-tower.
The Missouri Theatre was built in 1928. It serves as one of the main performance venues for the University of Missouri School of Music.
The Columbia congregation of the Missouri United Methodist Church was established in 1837. The present Gothic Revival building was constructed from 1925 to 1930. It is located at 9th Street.
The Museum of Art and Archaeology features 5 galleries, where more than 14,000 works of art and archaeological objects are exhibited. The museum was founded in 1961 and it is located at 115 Business Loop 70 West.
The North Village Arts District is a neighborhood in the northeast of Columbia. The district features numerous art galleries, restaurants, bars, theaters and a distillery.
The Paquin Tower is a 15-storey building.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is a geological preserve that features 12 caves, sinkholes and a rock bridge.
The Tiger Hotel is a 10-storey building that was completed in 1928. It is one of the few high-rise constructions in Columbia.

Around Columbia

The Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge consists of countless plots of land along the Missouri River that people have sold to the government in order to return it to nature. The goal is to re-establish the Missouri River to its former glory, by removing levees and artificial river banks.
The Big Tree is a bur oak that dates from the 17th century. The tree is about 27 m (89 ft) tall and stands solitary in the floodplain of the Missouri River, not far from Columbia.
Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area is a nature preserve and wetland area, located in the Missouri River floodplain, not far from Columbia. The conservation area was established after the 'Great Flood' destroyed the area's farmland in 1993.
Finger Lakes State Park is adjacent to the Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area and not far from Columbia. The park was originally a strip mine, but in 1974, the mining company donated the land. It was restored and converted into the park.
The Katy Trail State Park contains the Katy Trail, which is the longest continuous recreational rail trail in the United States. The trail runs for 290 km (240 mi) along the northern bank of the Missouri River, on the tracks of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT). The name was shortened to 'KT', which sounds like Katy and hence the trail's name. The trail starts at Clinton in the west of Missouri and runs through Sedalia, Boonville, Columbia, Jefferson City, Hermann, Washington, Saint Charles and almost to Saint Louis in the east of the state.
Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) was established in 1939 and named after Missouri native and author Mark Twain. The Cedar Creek part of the forest is close to Columbia, while other parts of the forest are further south in Missouri.

Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. Columbia is 45 km north of Jefferson City and 1,330 km west of Washington D.C.

Columbia (Missouri)

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