Free and Low Cost Family Activities
Capital Mall Play Area
3600 Country Club Dr Ste 50, Jefferson City, Missouri, MO 65109
Carnahan Memorial Garden
Corner of Capitol Ave and Jefferson Street Jefferson City, Mo 65101
573-751-3249
City of Jefferson (Parks and Recreation)
427 Monroe Street Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-634-6482 Fax: 573-634-6489 Hotline: 573-634-6485
http://www.jeffersoncitymo.gov
Parks such as Binder Park, Ellis-Porter Riverside Park, McKay Park, Washington Park, McClung Park, Memorial Park, Joseph C. Miller Park, etc. Look at website for addresses.
Colonel Alvin R. Lubker Memorial Safety and Education Center
1510 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, Missouri- located in the basement of the Patrol's General Headquarters
573-686-1619
Admission is free and the hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Displays such as vehicles, and equipment used throughout the history of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, as well as educational displays and simulators can be found at the Colonel Alvin R. Lubker Memorial Safety and education center. Fee: Free admission.
Governor’s Mansion
100 Madison Street Jefferson City, Mo 65101
573-751-7929
The state’s first family invites you to tour their home to see its beautiful architecture and period furniture as well as learn about the history of many of the state’s great governors. Public tours of the first floor are conducted each Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. In March, April and the first two weeks of May, tours are available on Wednesdays as well (same time periods as listed before). There are no tours in August and December except for the Candlelight Tours in December which showcases the mansion in full holiday décor. Free admission. Reservations required 24 hours.
Macaroni Kid
https://jeffersoncity.macaronikid.com/
This is website with a list of events and a calendar for events that are free or lost cost for families in Jefferson City MO.
Missouri River Regional Library
214 Adams St. Jefferson City, MO 65101-3244
573-634-2464
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM -9:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Services: Children's department, computers, Cd's and cassettes, audio books, parent teacher collection, videos, DVDs, fiction and nonfiction books, picture books, building block picture book awards books, Spanish language books and materials.
Missouri State Capitol
201 W. Capitol Ave. Jefferson City, Mo 65109
573-751-2854
https://mostateparks.com/page/55186/missouri-state-capitol
Hours: Open 7 days a week 8:00am- 5:00pm. (closed New Years Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) Services: Capitol Tour, reservations required for 10 people or more Fee: Free
Museum of Missouri Military History
2405 Logistics Rd., Jefferson City, Mo 65101
573-638-9603
https://www.visitmo.com/things-to-do/museum-of-missouri-military-history
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Closed all major holidays Services: museum houses exhibits beginning from 1808, the activation date of the Missouri Militia. Exhibits continue from the War of 1812 to Desert Storm. The building that houses the collection was built in the 1920s and used as a self-contained dormitory for prisoners working the dairy farm. Fee: Free Admission
Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation Museum
2500 Country Club Drive Jefferson City, Mo 65109
573-636-8737
https://www.movma.org/default.aspx
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:00 pm Services: The museum is place for children and adults to have fun together. Only museum in the United States devoted solely to veterinary medicine. What strange objects does a veterinarian find in a cow’s stomach? What did a veterinarian use in 1929 to give Fido his medicine? Discover the answers to these questions at the Veterinary Museum. Visitors touch and explore materials, such as bones, animal skins and hairballs. Other discovery materials are specimens showing stages of a calf embryo and various animal diseases.
Runge Nature Center
330 Commerce Drive Jefferson City, Mo 65109
573-526-5544
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/runge-conservation-nature-center
Hours: Open year round, Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am -5:00pm, Thursday until 8:00pm, Trails open 6:00am to 9:00pm Services: Enjoy the natural wonders of Missouri and the fish, forests and wildlife found here by strolling through exhibits or hiking nature center trails. Inside the center you will find an indoor wildlife viewing area, a nature library, more than 3,000 square feet of exhibits that lead you through a myriad of Missouri’s natural habitats. Featured in the exhibit are a 3,580-gallon fish aquarium, live amphibians and reptiles, hands-on activities for children and much more. Venture outside to explore over two miles of hiking trails. The Naturescape Trail is accessible to people with disabilities. Self-guided tours are always available; advance notice is required for naturalistled programs. Fee: Free admission
The Katy Trail
North of Jefferson City
The Katy Trail has something for everyone, whether you area a bicyclist, hiker, nature lover or history enthusiast.
Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library
600 West Main Street Jefferson City, Mo 65101
573-751-8720 and 800-392-2614
https://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner
Hours: Monday-Friday-8:00am -5:00pm Services: Wolfner Library is Missouri’s public library for the blind, physically and visually impaired and reading disabled. Materials provided include Braille, large print and/or recorded books and magazines, descriptive videos and NFB-NEWSLINE, a newspaper service over the telephone. Fee: Free Admission