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Springfield, Missouri City Guide

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Springfield Meeting Planning

Downtown Springfield

Springfield's breathtaking natural beauty, cultural attractions and comfortable accommodations make the 3rd largest city in Missouri a world-class destination. Known as the "Queen City of the Ozarks," Springfield's location atop a plateau of the Ozark Mountains not only makes for a gorgeous setting, but an accessible one as well. Springfield is near the nation's geographic and population centers, as major thoroughfares I-44, US 65, US 60, US 160 and Missouri 13 pass directly through the city. Air travel is equally convenient thanks to the Springfield-Branson National Airport, which offers non-stop service to 12 major U.S. destinations.

Inside the city, meeting planners are met with new facilities and a revitalized downtown brimming with excitement and venues. Located in Springfield's beautiful Jordan Valley ParkJordan Valley Park
Jordan Valley Park, the Springfield Expo Center offers more than 112,000 square feet of convention space, including seven breakout rooms and a 45,000-square-foot Expo Hall. Events at the Expo Center easily transition from day to night, as the 217-room University Plaza Hotel, over 50 restaurants and numerous shopping outlets are just minutes away.

Along with the Expo Center, Springfield welcomes events of all sizes with a number of smaller multi-purpose facility options. Add punch to your presentations by renting space at the 5,000-square-foot Gillioz Theatre, the historic site of movie premieres and vaudeville shows in Springfield's entertainment heyday. For a tradeshow or large conference, the Missouri Entertainment & Event Center boasts 87,400 square feet of exhibition space and room of 337 eight-foot-by-10-foot booths. Receptions, galas and black-tie affairs are right at home at the 7,480-square-foot Executive Conference Center and 12,876-square-foot Oasis Convention Center.

In addition to such traditional venues, the city of Springfield's unique attractions can make a memorable setting for any meeting or event. The first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in southwest Missouri, the West Wing of Springfield's Discovery CenterDiscovery Center
Discovery Center makes green meetings easy. Or, serve appetizers and cocktails at the modern Springfield Art Museum, where American paintings, watercolors, prints and sculptures create the perfect backdrop for an elegant affair.

Certainly one of the most unique venues in the city is the 40,000-square-foot, 55-room Pythian Castle, originally built as an orphanage in 1913. Hold receptions, banquets and more at the castle's grand foyer or ballroom. With murder mystery dinners, dancing lessons and custom tour offerings, Pythian Castle is also a great option for group outings and bonding activities.

Springfield's major industries include health care, manufacturing, education and tourism. The city serves as headquarters for such corporations as Bass Pro Shops, O'Reilly Auto Parts, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, and Students in Free Enterprise. Higher learning also holds a strong presence in the city, with Missouri State University, Drury University and Webster University being located in Springfield.

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About Springfield / Additional Info

Commercial Street Historic District

From the second major battle in the Civil War to the nation's first recorded "shootout" of the Wild West era, Springfield has played a part in many of the nation's most important and most colorful events. It also held a role as a critical transportation junction, being a stop on the St. LouisSt. Louis
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway and the official birthplace of US Route 66. Its convenient location certainly bolstered its economic standing, and today Springfield remains prosperous as the 3rd largest city in the state of Missouri at nearly 155,000 residents.

Located atop the Plateau of the Ozarks, the most extensive mountainous region between the Appalachians and the Rockies, Springfield's gorgeous natural wonders are among its most valuable assets. The Springfield Conservation Center features 80 acres of hike-ready native forest, while the city's network of Ozark Greenway trails are great for walking, biking and skating. Visitors can also fish or boat at the more than 7,500 miles of shoreline within a few miles of Springfield. Located just 35 miles south of the city, the manmade Table Rock Lake features full-service marinas, dive shops, boat rentals, parasailing and campgrounds.

Adventure seekers can also explore the only cave in North America large enough to drive through at the Fantastic Caverns
Fantastic CavernsFantastic Caverns. Or, stroll the 7.5-acre Mizumoto Japanese Garden, home to authentic tea huts, tranquil ponds and serene Japanese landscaping. Guests can even experience the outdoors inside at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the first and largest Bass Pro Shop. Here, visitors shop for outdoor supplies, see the resident 96-pound snapping turtle or practice archery at the indoor range.

Springfield's many other indoor attractions are equally captivating. Sports fanatics can't miss the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, home to an impressive collection of sports history and memorabilia honoring Missouri athletes, coaches and journalists. Visitors of all ages and tastes enjoy a stop at the Discovery Center of Springfield. Take part in an archeological dig, test launch an aircraft or pedal a high wire bike 20 feet above the ground at one of the center's many interactive exhibits.

After a day of exploration, Springfield's dining and nightlife scene does not disappoint. In fact, with over 800 restaurants, the city is quickly becoming Missouri's cuisine capital. Savor USDA prime steaks and chops at Argentina Steakhouse, delicious sushi at Izumi Hatake, or fresh seafood at Hemingway's Blue Water Café. After dinner, visitors can enjoy an award-winning craft beer at Springfield Brewing Company or dance the night away at Tonic Ultralounge. A small town full of big opportunities, Springfield is sure to please guests of all ages and tastes.