Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Missouri Theatre is mid-Missouri’s only pre-Depression era movie palace/vaudeville stage and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1928, the theatre’s interior is an ornate baroque and rococo style of the Louis XIV and XV periods. Designed by the Boller Brothers Architects of Kansas City, the theatre is modeled after the Paris Opera House. Much of the original detailing survives, including the Belgian marble wainscoting, plaster reliefs, stained glass art panels under the balcony, and an 1,800-pound Italian chandelier featuring crystal prisms and etched panels.

Originally The Varsity Theater, films were shown in this historic building from 1927 to 1960, before being turned into a music venue. Beyond live music, The Blue Note also features stand-up comedy, dance parties, weddings, community events, and even “Brew n’ View” movie screenings. Look for even more live music and events at their sister venue, Rose Music Hall!

Stephens Lake Park is the crown jewel of Columbia’s park system and is known for its 11-acre fishing/swimming lake, mature trees, and historical significance in the community. It serves as the center for outdoor winter sports, a variety of community festivals, and outdoor concert series at the amphitheater. It has five reserveable shelters, three playgrounds, a swimming beach and spraygrounds, art sculptures, waterfalls, and walking trails. This popular park houses numerous tree collections, including red bud, oak, conifer and nut trees, along with the Hindman Memorial Garden, Children’s Grove, and demonstration rain gardens, which have earned it a Level II Arboretum Accreditation.

The District is the perfect place for visitors to explore! You’ll find locally owned shops and restaurants, along with art galleries, public art, bars, concert venues, and more. The District is bound by three colleges and encompasses 50 square blocks, more than 300 individual properties, over 300 residences, and over 600 businesses, non-profits and government entities.

Voted #1 in the nation, Columbia Farmers Market is a year-round producer-only farmers market! Shop local, with everything produced within a 50-mile radius of Columbia! Over the past few years, the Columbia Farmers Market has experienced tremendous growth. With the opening of Columbia's Agriculture Park, Saturday customer counts regularly surpassed 5,000, and the vendor membership expanded to 85 local farmers, producers, and artisans. The market is deeply involved in the community, regularly hosting musicians, artisans, non-profit groups, educational opportunities, and many other special events.

The Museum of Art and Archaeology is the art museum of the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Museum of Art and Archaeology was founded in 1957 as the Study Collections for Art History and Archaeology. In 1961 it became the Museum of Art and Archaeology. In that year fourteen Old Master paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation were given to the university, and the first gallery of the museum was opened in the university library building. In 1976 the collections became generally accessible when the museum moved to Pickard Hall, named in honor of Professor John Pickard. Pickard, who trained in Germany, was the first chair of the university’s Department of Art History and Archaeology, founded in 1891. Together with Professor Walter Miller, an archaeologist and first dean of the university’s Graduate School, Pickard immediately began collecting original works of art, as well as materials for teaching—slides, photographs, oil copies of famous paintings, and a collection of plaster casts of famous sculptures (Cast Gallery). The whole collection was named the Museum of Classical Archaeology and History of Art. Over one hundred and fifty works of art from those early years are still part of the Museum of Art and Archaeology’s collection. During the depression years, the Museum of Classical Archaeology and Art ceased to exist, as did the Department of Art History and Archaeology, but with the appointment of Professor Saul S. Weinberg to the Department of Classics in 1948 and of Professor Homer L. Thomas to the Art Department in 1950, the decision was made to reestablish the Department of Art History and Archaeology, which led to the creation of the Study Collections in 1957. In 1967, the tenth anniversary of the museum, Muse, Annual of the Museum of Art and Archaeology, was inaugurated. Muse publishes articles on works in the collection, reports on museum activities, and has in the past included reports on excavations supported by the museum. The annual listing of acquisitions in Muserecords the growth of the collection. With the move to Pickard Hall in 1976 the museum began to play a more significant role in the community. A friends’ group, Museum Associates, was founded at the time of the opening and has played a significant role in supporting the museum’s activities and acquisitions throughout the years.

The Arcade District is a thriving innovation hub in Columbia, Missouri, right in the heart of the Midwest. Dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation, we actively support emerging businesses by securing financial capital and providing guidance on marketing strategies. Our environment is crafted to nurture creativity. Situated in a walkable area, our locale boasts a retro-style arcade, distillery, vinyl record store, and two restaurants. This carefully curated mix creates an inspiring backdrop, ideal for entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, the Arcade District annually hosts musical events in our Sentinel Park venue, further enriching the creative atmosphere. At the Arcade District, we believe in not only providing resources but also fostering an atmosphere where creativity flourishes, setting the stage for the next wave of innovative ventures.

Ragtag’s mission is to champion independent film and media art and to serve film communities both locally and globally. The theater opens for seating 30 minutes before showtime (or as soon as it’s cleaned and ready from the previous showtime). To assure that everyone in your party can find seats together, it’s advisable to arrive at this time, so make sure you allow plenty of time for parking, which can be a little tricky (especially on the weekends). We recommend the city parking garage at Hitt and Cherry, just ½ block away. Parking there is free on weekends and after 6pm on weekdays. In addition to tickets, the box office sells gift cards in any denomination and Ragtag memberships. The box office also sells Ragtag tote bags and t-shirts, as well as a small selection of True/False items.