The Military Trails of Missouri program invites families and individuals to visit military museums, memorials, and battlefields throughout Missouri to learn about the state’s rich military history.
The program consists of twelve museums, memorials, and Civil War battle sites.
The adventure begins by picking up a special keepsake passport booklet at one of the twelve participating locations. The passport is yours to keep and serves as an information guide inviting you to discover the military stories each site has to offer.
As you go from site to site collecting commemorative stamps and coins you’ll learn about Missouri’s connection to military-related events from the Revolutionary War through modern-day warfare, and our state’s veterans, military heroes, and leaders. Visit all twelve sites to learn more about the history and earn your very own completion coin!
The Military Trails of Missouri provides an opportunity to link the great military history together to provide a fun and educational Missouri vacation, or multiple day trips!
How It Works:
It’s simple! Wherever you start on the Military Trail, begin by visiting that site’s information area to learn where you can pick up your free passport booklet, along with that site’s official coin and stamp. Once you receive your passport, you can collect stamps and coins from every participating site along the trail. Once you collect all 12 stamps, you may pick up your completion coin at any of the sites!
We are in the process of printing more coins and passports for our sites. During this time, some items may be temporarily out of stock. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
Click on the coins below to visit each historical site’s website.
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum
1315 Chestnut Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum is both a memorial and museum that honors local military service members, veterans, and their families. “St. Louis in Service,” Soldiers Memorial’s signature exhibit, explores military history through the lens of St. Louis and those who have served from the American Revolution to today.
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
500 West U.S. Highway 24
Independence, MO 64050
As the captain of an artillery battery in France in 1918, Harry Truman became the only American President to serve in combat in World War I. A quarter century later, as President, he commanded all American military forces in the Second World War, ushered in the nuclear age, and helped to shape the structure of the world for years to come.
The National Stars and Stripes Museum and Library
17377 Stars and Stripes Way
Bloomfield, MO 63825
The birthplace of our nation’s military newspaper, “The Stars and Stripes.” Visitors will see an original copy of our Civil War “Stars and Stripes” newspaper printed in 1861. With over 7500 square feet of exhibit space, the museum offers a unique and important view of some of the most pivotal moments in history.
Veterans Memorial Museum
1250 W. Hwy 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
Over 2,000 exhibits pay tribute to those who defended our liberties during the wars and conflicts of the 20th Century including WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.
Wentworth Military Academy Museum
100 13th St.
Lexington, MO 64067
Walk through 137 years of Wentworth History. After the school’s closing in 2017, the Museum opened in 2018, preserving the Academy’s legacy.
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
7400 Grant Road
St. Louis, MO 63123
Learn more about Grant’s life and legacy. Take a ranger-led tour of the historic house, walk the park grounds, explore the museum exhibits, and discover why Grant is one of the most important Americans of the 19th century.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial Drive
Kansas City, MO 64108
Designated by congress as America’s official World War I Museum, the National WWI Museum and Memorial is dedicated to remembering, interpreting, and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.
Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial
1172 Veterans Memorial Prkwy
Perryville, MO 63775
Visit the only exact replica of The Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. and read names of over 58,000 service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Tour our Honor Flag Memorial.
Museum of Missouri Military History
2405 Logistics Road
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Dedicated to the preservation of Missouri’s military history and honoring the members of Missouri’s military service.
Battle of Lexington State Historical Site
1101 Delaware
Lexington, MO 64607
The site where one of the first battles of the Civil War took place. Tour the historic Anderson House, Civil War entrenchments on the battlefield, and our visitor center.
Wilson Creek National Battlefield
5242 S. State Hwy ZZ
Republic, MO 65738
The first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River and the site of the death of Nathaniel Lyon. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861 focused national attention on the war in MIssouri.
Battle of Athens State Historic Site
12378 Athens State Park Road
Revere, MO 63465
The site where the northern most Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River occurred. We offer free tours of the museum and Cannonball House, which still exhibits two holes from being pierced by a cannonball during the battle.
Share Your Photos!
Share your Military Trails of Missouri adventures on social media! Whether you visit one or all twelve sites please include #MOMilitarytrails and tag @MOHumanities (FB & Instagram) and @americaswall (FB) and @mnvm_americas_wall (Instagram). Don’t forget to tag the site you are visiting too!
The Military Trails of Missouri program was created in partnership with Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial (MNVM) by way of Missouri Humanities awarding a grant of $33,000 to MNVM in support of the coins and passports for the Military Trails program. Funding for that grant was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.
Please direct all general inquiries and feedback regarding the Passport to Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial by calling 573.547.2035 or emailing info@mnvmfund.org. Please direct site-specific questions to the Individual sites.
*Unfortunately we cannot retroactively stamp Passports or accept Passports via mail for stamping purposes.
