St. Joseph is a Missouri River port with a medical, educational, industrial and agricultural economy. This Pony Express hometown, population 74,000, celebrates its past with a variety of historical attractions and festivals, while keeping a small town profile.
St. Joseph has 13 museums featuring art, history and religion. The Patee House Museum, headquarters of the Pony Express, has exhibits relating to the historic mail service. The original Pony Express stables are open for viewing at the Pony Express Museum. The house where Jesse James was shot and killed, Jesse James Home, and the Buchanan County Courthouse where his murder stood trial are part of St. Joseph's historic venues.
Festivals honoring Wild West culture, the Southside Fall Festival and Rodeo in September, and Trails West in August, feature crafts, entertainment and food. Shoppers looking for souvenirs head to the Stetson Hat Factory for world-famous hats. At Terrible's St. Jo Frontier Casino, a riverboat gaming venue, visitors can try their hand at blackjack or poker.
A network of 40 parks, covering 1,500 acres, is connected by a 26-mile, hiking and biking parkway. The parkway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The parks offer golf, swimming and tennis.
St. Joseph is located 35 miles north of Kansas City. It is accessible via Interstate Highway 29 and U.S. highways 36, 59, 71 and 169. There are a variety of lodging options available.