Sedalia, Home of the Missouri State Fair

Sedalia, Missouri is a city with a full history. It began in the mid 1860s as a frontier town in the “new west.” Its heritage lends itself well to being the home of the Missouri State Fair each year.
The quaint town of Sedalia features many antique shops and a historical district with Missouri's first Carnegie Library. The city has special tours to some of its historical sites including the library, an authentic Missouri "castle", and Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site.

The economy of Sedalia was built around the railroad. Even today, the country’s largest rail to trail conversion, the Katy Trail State Park, winds through Sedalia.

The Missouri State Fair
With over 396 acres of exhibit areas, the Missouri State Fairgrounds attracts thousands each year. The Missouri State Fair lasts for ten days and is one of the biggest in the nation. Throughout the year, the Fairgrounds hosts a variety of other events including livestock shows, camping events, sporting events, horse and car races and truck pulls. If you’re traveling to the Ozarks using Hwy 50 during the time of the fair, be prepared to deal with the traffic!

New Exhibitions in Sedalia
Sedalia Parks & Recreation along with the Sedalia Heritage Foundation and the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce recently premiered a Sculpture in the Park outdoor exhibit. Five pieces were unveiled last summer. The exhibit not only enhances Sedalia's heritage trail but also serves as a complement to one of the best contemporary art museums in the Midwest; the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2007, Parks & Recreation will unveil more sculptures in the Park