As I turned off the main highway and wound down a gentle country road, I wondered what I would find at the end of my trail. I had thrown a dart at a map and booked a room in Washington Missouri. I liked the name just because my son and his wife recently moved to The Washington. As I rode over the bridge into town, I was happy to discover a place saturated in history like the Big City itself.
The buildings are proudly preserved and they enticingly welcome you back into their grand era. I stopped at the Visitor Center to get a plan for my visit. I didn’t want to waste a moment of my brief time there. As I stepped inside, I was greeted by a sincerely friendly woman, who introduced herself as Cheryl. I told the reason for my trip and gave her my blog business card. She crafted a quick itinerary for me, and off I went into town. As I was exploring my first stop, my phone rang — and it was Cheryl. She told me she was going out to the Fairgrounds to drop off some supplies, and asked if I wanted to join her, and then she would give me a tour of the town. I excitedly said yes, and waited outside on the curb for her to pick me up. Who does that?! I will never get over the unhesitatingly kind helpfulness of people in small Midwest towns.
Cheryl drove us to the Fairgrounds, where I met Emily, who is overseeing the preparations. Their Fair draws 70,000 people! That is incredible for a place so far off the beaten path. In fact, it is the third largest Fair in Missouri. What a massive undertaking, but the townspeople happily pitch in to make it a memorable event for all. How special is that?! They understand that those types of memories are the sweet ones we get to revisit and relive throughout our lives.
Afterwards, Cheryl drove me through town and pointed out each historic structure, giving me its background story. She dropped me off at our starting point and I began my exploration with insider’s knowledge. That is a rare treat.
I knew corn cob pipes were popular in the olden days. But I didn’t realize they were still a thing. Meerschaums opened 154 years ago, and today they make 3,000 – 5,000 pipes per day, and ship them to 70 countries!
Right next to the old General MacArthur corn cob pipe, is a Cannabis pipe.
For some reason, the pipes made me thirsty for a coffee. Thankfully, within a few steps, is Undergrounds Coffee, which has a peaceful resting porch overlooking the Grand Dame of rivers. The Missouri River is the longest river in the U.S. She is affectionately referred to as the Mighty Mo. I cozied up on one of those chairs with my latte, and enjoyed being mesmerized by the soothing flow of the current.
Afterwards, I went up the hill to one of my favorite places in any town – the History Museum. I met the young Curator/Archivist, Katie Dieckhaus. As Executive Director, she organizes their massively impressive repository. It is a gift to any researcher (authors, film makers, family historians….). She gave me a synopsis of the history of Washington — named after our country’s president. This town was founded by a woman in 1839. Stop a moment and imagine that. A widow, alone in an uninhabited land, just 30 years after Lewis and Clark passed through. In my deepest heart, I want to be a woman like that. To have such unflagging courage, and strength of body and mind, would be the pinnacle of life.
Definitely visit the Museum while you are in town, and hear about the fascinating stories it holds, including the chronicle of the international Zither Factory that used to exist in Washington. Or search their extensive website. There is so much I didn’t include, so you could experience the pleasure of discovering it yourself. Ask about Dr. Mary McLean, who cofounded the YWCA, and worked at the “Social Evil Hospital”. Yes, that was the real name of the hospital. At the Museum, you can also learn about the type of patients the hospital served.
Browse the many darling boutiques around town. I have discovered that “florists” do not just provide floral arrangements, but often a variety of gifts as well. Four Seasons Florist is a visual feast experience. And Neighborhood Reads offers a large choice of unique books.
I ended my trip with a stop at the Swallows Nest – a cafe/coffeeshop/boutique. I met Deb, the accomplished creative developer and owner (pictured above). She gave me a tour through the elegant 1880 building. She grows her own herbs for their dishes and drinks. Swallows Nest has a Master Roaster who roasts their coffee beans. Deb does everything to exquisite perfection. This will surely be one of the highlights of your vacation.
I was so thankful to Cheryl, from the Visitor Center, for her recommendations. She also introduced me to one of her town friends, Slava, who is a travel blogger. The three of us instantly recognized that we are kindred spirits. There is nothing like making friends around the world on travel trips. Washington Missouri has some of the best ones!