MISSOURI

The name "Missouri" comes from the Missouris, a Sioux Indian tribe, and means "wooden canoe people" or "he of the big canoe."

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is the tallest man-made national monument in the United States, standing at 630 feet tall.

Richland, Missouri is the only city in the U.S. with a cave restaurant.

Kansas City has more fountains than any city in the world except Rome, earning it the nickname "City of Fountains".

The Pony Express started in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Susan Elizabeth Blow opened the first public kindergarten in the United States in St. Louis in 1873.

Missouri has an official state grape, the Norton/Cynthiana grape.

Missouri is the birthplace of ragtime, Kansas City jazz, and St. Louis blues.

Missouri is the top producer of mined lead in the United States.

Missouri is the top producer of lime in the United States.