STATEWIDE, Mo. – 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 as well as its role in more distant conflicts.
The program incorporates 12 museums, memorials, and Civil War battle sites, including Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial (MNVM).
The adventure begins by picking up a special keepsake passport booklet at MNVM or one of the participating locations.
The passport serves as an informational guide inviting participants to discover the military artifacts and stories each site offers. As families and individuals go from site to site collecting commemorative stamps and coins, they’ll learn about Missouri’s connection to military-related events from the Revolutionary War through modern-day warfare, including contributions by state veterans, military heroes, and leaders. Upon collecting all twelve stamps in their passports, participants earn their very own completion coin—available at any site.
The Military Trails of Missouri Program was created in partnership with Missouri Humanities awarding MNVM a $33,000 grant in support of the coins and passports. 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 to stimulate Missouri’s economy by providing a program encouraging families to visit Missouri’s military-related sites. Program materials are now available, just in time for summer, to offer an educational and familyfriendly Missouri vacation or multiple-day road trip!
To learn more and to begin your adventure, visit: www.mohumanities.org/military-trails/
This program is made possible in partnership with several participating locations, including the Battle of Athens State Historic Site, Battle of Lexington State Historic Site, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial, Museum of Missouri Military History, National WWI Museum and Memorial, The National Stars and Stripes Museum and Library, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, Veterans Memorial Museum, Wentworth Military Academy Museum, and Wilson Creek National Battlefield. Questions? Contact Rae Lynn at raelynn@mnvmfund.org.