Liberty

The town of Liberty is an excellent base if visiting the metropolitan Kansas City area. It’s an easy drive to downtown Kansas City noted for its world class museums, to Independence with the Presidential Library and home of Harry S. Truman, and to Excelsior Springs famous for its resort spas. That being said there is plenty to see in Liberty. The town has 200 historic buildings built before 1900; four of its residential neighborhoods and the square surrounding the Clay County Courthouse have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. William Jewell College, one of the oldest private colleges in Missouri, was founded here in ...

The town of Liberty is an excellent base if visiting the metropolitan Kansas City area. It’s an easy drive to downtown Kansas City noted for its world class museums, to Independence with the Presidential Library and home of Harry S. Truman, and to Excelsior Springs famous for its resort spas. That being said there is plenty to see in Liberty. The town has 200 historic buildings built before 1900; four of its residential neighborhoods and the square surrounding the Clay County Courthouse have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. William Jewell College, one of the oldest private colleges in Missouri, was founded here in 1849. Joseph Smith, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and six of his fellow Mormons spent the winter of 1839 in the Liberty jail under persecution for their religious beliefs. From 1840 to 1860 Liberty was a stopping off point for Mormons heading to their New Zion in Salt Lake City, Utah. American outlaw Jesse James did the first daylight bank robbery at what is now the Jesse James Bank Museum. James was born in nearby Kearney; visitors can tour his house and gravesite.

About the Expert

Frances Folsom is the author of CitySpot Palermo, a contributor to the Reiskits guides to Milan and Italy's Lakes Region, and Thomas Cook's Independent Traveller USA.