The best arts & culture spots in Springfield

“American history on four wheels lives at Route 66 Car Museum, where more than 75 rides span Brass Era oddities, celebrity screen cars and gleaming sports icons from both sides of the Atlantic. It’s a Springfield staple and it’s closing April 17, 2027, so start crossing it off your list now.”

From the Springfield newsletter, September 16, 2026

“History Museum on the Square turns local history into a hands-on ride, from a Wild Bill Hickok shootout and a vintage passenger train to a Route 66 gallery with a '57 Chevy, neon nostalgia, and stories from Red's Giant Hamburg to the Shrine Mosque.”

From the Springfield newsletter, September 2, 2026

“Whether you’ve got dino-obsessed kids or a curiosity streak, Missouri Institute of Natural Science packs a free museum with a face-to-face triceratops, Ozarks hiking trails, and a hillside fossil hunt where you keep loose finds, plus Ice Age discoveries from Riverbluff Cave and real research happening on site.”

From the Springfield newsletter, September 6, 2026

“Walls need a glow-up this week? Mural Gal Painting creates high-quality murals and custom hand-painted signs for commercial and residential spaces, working on walls, ceilings, floors, fences, even roofs, plus decorative and faux finishes that beat wallpaper and can mimic marble without the marble price tag.”

From the Springfield newsletter, August 12, 2026

“If you haven't wandered through the Wildlife Galleries and the Aquarium Adventure at Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, you’re missing a legit Springfield staple.”

From the Springfield newsletter, September 9, 2026

“Trade screen time for cockpit time this week at Air & Military Museum-Ozarks, where you can get close with vintage aircraft, jeeps, uniforms and gear. Expect hands-on exhibits, restorations in progress, and simulators that make learning history feel a lot like play.”

From the Springfield newsletter, August 26, 2026

“First Friday Art Walk – Springfield, MO turns Downtown Springfield and Commercial Street into a self-guided gallery hop with local art, live music, and bites, and it's free. Cruise at your own pace on first Fridays, then circle back all month to catch member exhibits you missed.”

From the Springfield newsletter, August 19, 2026