3 Best Landmarks in Springfield, MO

" Fantastic Caverns is America's Ride-Thru Cave, built by an Ozarks farmer with his dog, who crawled into a little hill entrance. The cave has more than 7,300 documented cave formations that dot the Missouri landscape. Fantastic Caverns offers a complete ride tour, which lasts 55 minutes and is held in a Jeep-drawn tram. The trams move along the path left behind by an ancient underground river. The cave features formations including columns, cave pearls, soda straws, and mineral deposits extending from the floor to the ceiling. Fantastic Caverns has free parking, guides, and tours, and is pet-friendly.

" Pythian Castle was built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias and was later granted to the U.S. military. During World War II, German and Italian prisoners of war were held at Pythian Castle and assigned to medical treatment and labor duties. The first floor of the Pythian Home of Missouri includes a meeting room, ballroom, grand foyer, dining hall, and sitting parlors. The second floor was designed with dormitories, living rooms, a theatre, and changing rooms for residents and recreational activities. Pythian Castle offers daytime history tours, evening ghost tours, murder mystery dinners, escape-room experiences, and seasonal events. Pythian Castle also hosts special events, private functions, and other scheduled activities.

" History Museum on the Square is a museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of Springfield and the surrounding region through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum preserves historical documents, photographs, artifacts, and other materials that document the history of Springfield. The museum's development has involved support from local organizations and community partners. History Museum on the Square provides free parking for visitors.