9 Unusual Buildings in Missouri You Have to See to Believe

At first glance, Missouri doesn’t seem like the epicenter of odd architecture, except for the Gateway Arch, among the most iconic buildings in the U.S. But when you start looking closer, the list of bizarre, wonderful, and weird buildings quickly spins out of control. The strangest buildings in Missouri are so cool that they represent a legitimate theme for planning your next road trip.

9. Independence Temple - Independence

The Independence Temple is a spiral metallic needle jutting into the sky from the Kansas City suburbs. The 120-foot structure is meant to represent a blooming flower, symbolizing peace and spiritual growth. It is an active place of worship, but it’s also considered a tourist attraction, offering guided tours of the building, gardens, and reflecting pool. 

8. Compton Hill Water Tower - St. Louis

Next, the Compton Hill Water Tower is located on the opposite side of Missouri, at Tower Grove Park in the Compton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis. This historical structure is a former water tower built at the turn of the 20th century and is one of the last seven remaining standpipe towers in the United States.

7. Community Bookshelf - Kansas City

Heading back to Kansas City, you can explore the Community Bookshelf, the exterior facade of the Central Library parking garage. This strange building in Missouri depicts 22 larger-than-life book spines, including classics like Charlotte’s Web and The Lord of the Rings. It’s free to visit anytime and is one of the most photographed places in Kansas City. 

6. Saint Louis Abbey - Creve Coeur

Another religious site on the list includes the Saint Louis Abbey, a 20-minute drive west of St. Louis, Missouri. It’s a Benedictine Monastery home to 24 monks and is known for its bizarre architectural design, featuring three tiers of parabolic arches.

5. National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial - Kansas City

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial is a unique structure, representing Egyptian Revival and Beaux-Arts Classicism architecture, rarely seen in the U.S. It includes four buildings essentially melted together, the 217-foot limestone obelisk, two box-like pavilions, and the subterranean museum. This Kansas City museum's exterior also displays four 40-foot-tall ‘guardian spirits,’ two sphinxes, and the 148-foot Great Frieze stone.

4. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts - Kansas City

The fifth and final Kansas City building to make the list of the strangest buildings in Missouri is the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. This massive performance venue features two half-shells, a massive glass-bubble lobby suspended by steel cables, and a stainless-steel facade designed to mimic rising waves.

3. James S. McDonnell Planetarium - St. Louis

Coming in as the most alien-like structure, the James S. McDonnell Planetarium brandishes a bizarre, futuristic shape that houses the largest projection dome in North America. Its Mid-Century architectural style is represented by an inverted cone, meant to resemble a UFO landing on Earth, and is a must-visit landmark in St. Louis.

2. One Hundred Above the Park Apartments - St. Louis

The newest building on the list, One Hundred Above the Park, was built in St. Louis in 2020 and features a leaf-shaped floor plan and a scalloped facade. The LEED-certified buildings are a remarkable ode to sustainability in urban housing, designed to capture as much sunlight as possible and maximize energy efficiency. 

1. The Gateway Arch - St. Louis

 And finally, the crown jewel of the strangest buildings in Missouri, the Gateway Arch. One of the weirdest things about it is the surrounding national park, one of only two urban national parks in the USA. The 630-foot stainless steel arch is meant to mimic the natural curve of a chain, and is made of two weighted cantenary curves. Inside the legs is a tram system with eight pods that allow visitors to summit the arch and see 30 miles in every direction. 

Looking for more weird sites in Missouri? Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner can help!