On a breezy Monday morning, I sailed over to Springfield Missouri – an easy 3 hour drive from my home. I checked into the Bass Pro’s hotel – Angler’s Lodge. It has the feel of a woodsy inn. The rooms are standard, comfortable, and well-cleaned. Moreover, the staff are some of the friendliest folk in town. We all stood outside together to watch the solar eclipse. They even helped me rig up my iPhone so the camera wouldn’t be damaged when I shot pictures of the sun. It was a special camaraderie we shared as we watched the suspenseful event together.
Directly across the street is the original Bass Pro shop. It is massive, and is so appealingly decorated that it invites unhurried browsing.
The entryway lobby of Bass Pro.
a live alligator in the shop!
the lounge of the Hemingway Cafe
the forest-shrouded stairs leading up to the Hemingway Cafe
I had lunch upstairs in the Hemingway cafe. It is elegantly styled after the eminent man himself. I perused the aged photos of the great author’s expeditions in the wilderness. I felt as if he could saunter into the room at any moment, cigar in hand.
I set out to explore the town, and stopped at the Visitor Center first. Ashley determined what I was interested in and gave me a multitude of suggestions. I was ready. Off I went to Historic C-Street. It is a district of long blocks filled with Victorian-style buildings. Sadly, some are shuttered and seem to be deteriorating. But many are well loved and cared for. My favorite is Ms. Gilmore’s Tea Room. I have never seen a shop so lavishly decorated in such a whimsical style. It’s design is based on Alice In Wonderland.
a shelf display
their bakery
there are plentiful ideas for gifts
the Alice in Wonderland tea room
Just down the road is a nondescript building that houses an astounding business. I have often seen Askinosie chocolate bars in Whole Foods and other stores around the country. So, I was surprised to happen upon their factory headquarters in Springfield Missouri. I discovered quite a story behind the prestigious chocolates. Shawn Askinosie was a criminal defense attorney for 20 years. After working on endless murder trials, he burned out, and decided it was time for a life change. He took up baking as a way to unwind. It ignited a passion and he naturally folowed its lead. It took him to the Rain Forest, where he participated in a master class on cacao, and then to Ecuador where he learned the craft of making chocolates.
Today Askinosie Chocolate has been named one of Forbes 25 best small companies in America. Leave it to an attorney to meticulously research and create a product of perfection! Shawn buys their cocoa beans from Ecuador, the Amazon, Tanzania and the Philippines. The company he founded conscientiously works with the farmers, the forests, our ecosphere. No wonder their chocolates are superb. They are crafted in the most pristine way.
I finished off my trip with a visit to the History Museum on the Square. The museum has a fun Time Machine you can enter and travel back to see the many events and people of Springfield’s past. This particular story was one of my favorites.
Upstairs in the museum is a long room with a colorful display about Route 66. The famous highway was pieced together from rutted pioneer trails along the route of the old stagecoach line. It was fully paved in 1938. It connected Chicago to Los Angeles, via St. Louis. It came right through Springfield. The museum memorabilia of the highway depicts diners, motels, and attractions along the way. Route 66 was bypassed by major, modern freeways and was decommissioned in 1985.
One last exhibit really held my attention. It tells the story of Wild Bill Hickok, who lost his watch in a card game. He warned the young man who won it to never wear it in front of him. The next day, the lad wore it out in public, Wild Bill saw it across the Springfield town square, drew his gun, and shot Davis Tutts dead.
mean Wild Bill Hickok
Davis Tutt
Look at this beautiful young man. Such magnetic eyes. How grossly cruel of Wild Bill to kill him on a whim.
You can stand in the very spot where the gunfight took place. It kind of feels creepy and sad. Karma had the final say, when just a few years later, Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed during a card game. He was 39.
Springfield Missouri has some good history and sites to visit. I may need to schedule a trip back to tour the Pythian Castle. I was told it has some pretty spooky stories of its own. And I love a good story!