Mark Twain Cave

A short drive south of town, Mark Twain Cave is the oldest commercial show cave in Missouri, open for tours since 1886. Guides take you through about half a mile of cool limestone passages and explain the cave's geology, its history, and the connection to Tom Sawyer.

The cave stays at about 12 C year-round — a relief in summer, when central Missouri can get into the high thirties. There is a small winery on the grounds and a gift shop, but the cave is the reason to go.

things to do sight
A story
The cave was the model for the cave in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Tom Sawyer Abroad, and Sam Clemens almost certainly explored its passages as a child. It was also a hideout used by the outlaw Jesse James in the 1870s — his signature, along with thousands of others, can still be seen on the limestone walls.