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Rutledge-Wilson Farm is a 207-acre park on the westside of Springfield, Missouri. Thanks to the Rutledge-Wilson families and local taxes, visitors can enjoy farm animals, trails, picnics, an attractive playground, and trails that include Wilson's Creek.
It's a great place to enjoy a day out for people of any age.
Some animals hang out inside the barn.
Others enjoy resting on a sunny day.
Still others head for the fences in search of generous humans.
And others get what they can find.
The playground looks like it belongs in a farm scene.
There's a pond near the playground.
The trails and Wilson's Creek are off to the west.
There's a store and restrooms near the parking area.
When this was posted, there were no entrance fees.
I took all of the photos in this post. They may be used for noncommercial purposes. Kindly include credit to Geoffrey W. Sutton at suttong.com 2023.
The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum in Springfield Missouri USA is an entertaining and educational experience. The galleries are first class. The adventures take visitors on a wide-ranging safari across North America and into Africa with side trips to view wildlife in other parts of the world.
I've been to natural history museums in the US and elsewhere and find the Wonders of Wildlife galleries as good or better than those you will find in places like Chicago, New York, and London. Of course, you do not see the variety of natural history exhibits that you would elsewhere since the focus here is on wildlife. But when combined with the adjacent aquarium, you have a full day's worth of an awesome experience.
You enter up the stairs near the main entrance to the Bass Pro Shop. You can get tickets online or onsite. The tour begins with an optional film then a walk through the Native American Gallery, past Theodore Roosevelt's Cabin, along the Lewis & Clark journey, and into America's National Parks.
The galleries include Boone & Crockett, Bucks & Bulls, Sheep Mountain, Penguin Cove, and the Polar Expedition.
The Great African Hall is like a miniature Kruger or other African preserve-- especially when you add Africa After Dark, Lion's Den, and Operation Rhino.
You exit into the large entry by the gift shop and aquarium (Great Oceans Hall).
INFORMATION
Location: 500 W. Sunshine St. Springfield, Missouri, USA 65807
Hours: Mostly 10:00 am to 8:00 pm - some variations so check the website for details.
Entrance Fees: It is expensive but not more than you would pay at a large city aquarium.
TIP: Check closely as there are a variety of tickets for individuals and families with discounts available. We plan to go back so we purchased an annual pass. Ask about the upgrade rules before you leave if you bought a one day ticket and want to return.
Refreshments: There is a place to eat inside. You can find a number of restaurants nearby.
Parking: The parking is free and so far, there has been plenty of spaces available.
The Aquarium at the Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield is worth a few hours of your time in Southwest Missouri.
My wife and I visited the aquarium soon after it opened and were quite impressed--which is not easy because we have seen some great aquariums in the US, UK, and NZ.
When you first walk in you see a huge multistory aquarium, which in itself is impressive--300,000 gallons worth! You quickly find yourself tracking movement as you navigate the circular structure.
What's next?
Well, there are displays of fishermen and their equipment. That might not thrill folks not into fishing. But don't despair. There's more. Much more actually. According to the ads, there are "more than 35,000 animals...over 800 species of sharks, rays, jellies, eels, sport fish..."
Here's a glimpse of some of the things you can enjoy.
Shipwreck Reef
Swamp at Night-- with audio effects! (Kinda dark so, no photos)
Rivers and Streams * Mangroves * The Amazon
An under river experience * Shark Alley * Coral Reefs
A fantastic display of seashells from around the world (they are in glass cases so I did not get any good photos here)
A look in deep waters
Sometimes you can see divers feeding fish.
There are dark caves and River Monsters
And there's a chance to touch rays and starfish. Great for kids-- all ages of course.
And of course a gift shop where you can find gifts at reasonable prices. We naturally thought of our grandchildren.
INFORMATION
Location: 500 W. Sunshine St. Springfield, Missouri, USA 65807
Hours: Mostly 10:00 am to 8:00 pm - some variations so check the website for details.
Entrance Fees: It is expensive but not more than you would pay at a large city aquarium.
TIP: Check closely as there are a variety of tickets for individuals and families with discounts available. We plan to go back so we purchased an annual pass. Ask about the upgrade rules before you leave if you bought a one day ticket and want to return.
Refreshments: There is a place to eat inside. You can find a number of restaurants nearby.
Parking: The parking is free and so far, there has been plenty of spaces available.
Nathanael Greene Park located at 2400 South Scenic in Springfield MO (65807) is more than a place to enjoy a picnic in a pleasant setting. In addition to the usual park things like trails, picnic areas, play areas, and a small lake, this park has other attractions.
There are many gardens with a special focus such as dwarf conifers, roses, and an English garden.
Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is a traditional Japanese Garden present since 1986. There is a fee so check the web site for details.
A Butterfly House is open on a seasonal basis- see the website for details.
Local life in the mid 1800s can be examined at the Gray-Campbell Farmstead. There's a cabin, barn, kitchen, granery, outhouse and school.
Trails circle the Lake and connect to the area Greenway Trail. On the trail outside the park is a marker for the Trail of Tears route.
Facilities: There are restrooms and a shop and classrooms in the Botanical Center.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Cost: No cost for the general park area but there are costs for some activities.
Website: http://www.parkboard.org/274/Springfield-Botanical-Gardens
Parking: I have always found a place to park even on busy event days.
Garden Map: http://www.parkboard.org/DocumentCenter/View/1482
Arboretum Map: https://springfieldparksmo.mytreekeeper.com/
The Toy Museum in Branson Missouri claimed it's the world's largest toy museum so we took a look.
In 2017, they advertised having over 1 Million toys. Considering their display cases from floor to ceiling, that seems believable. If you enjoy looking at toys from several decades past, you'll probably enjoy the visit. We are glad we went.
As you might guess, most toys are American but I did find a few British items reminding me of my childhood soldiers.
I'm not sure if the collection favors traditional toys for boys more than girls. There were many dolls from several decades and doll houses too. Even Alf shared his display. And my wife found a Dale Evans lunch box and thermos like the one she took to school.
I expected to see trains but the collection is small. An interesting diorama shows an attic scene.
One of the unique collections is a room full of Draughts aka checkers. There's a few tables where you can sit and play a game.
Tips and Notes
Cost: It is not cheap. We paid $18.92 each, which includes 11.6% tax. Look for discounts at visitor's centers. Online ticket link.
It is family friendly. There are several areas where children can build things and draw.
Photography: Photography is permitted. The lighting and glass cases make it difficult to get some clear shots even without flash.
The Gift Shop has affordable toys and did not seem overpriced to us. We picked up some items for our grandchildren.
Parking- there seemed to be ample parking but we were there before the heavy season.
Location- It is on the busy route 76 near 376. Directions.
Restrooms- they appeared clean and well-stocked.
Religiosity- The collections include a wide range of toys that do not overtly link to any religion. Like many places in Branson, there are references to Christianity- in this case some Christian-themed toys, games, and signs.
Staff- all we met were friendly.
Website- There's a great introduction to the collection on the website, which may be worth a visit before you go.
