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Where can I catch a glimpse of the 2017 total solar eclipse in Kansas, Missouri?

You don't want to miss this
Posted at 3:25 PM, Jul 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-17 16:07:11-04

The eclipse is coming!

Parts of Missouri and Kansas are in the direct path of the phenomenon, and it’s causing quite a boom in tourism.

Hotels along the route are already selling out as people gear up to watch the first eclipse to pass over the state of Missouri in 148 years.

Camping at state parks is also an option, but be sure to check with your local park to see if you need a reservation.

The Missouri State Parks website has an extensive list of the parks in the direct path of the total eclipse, and it also tells you which parks require reservations.

Those closest to the metro include Weston Bend State Park, Lewis and Clark State Park and Big Lake State Park. All three require reservations for camping, but are open to the public on the day of the eclipse.

There are fewer events on the Kansas side, because the eclipse path only touches a small portion of the northeastern corner of the state. You can see the eclipse path over Kansas here, and over Missouri here.

You don’t have to be an eclipse chaser to find the best spot to catch a glimpse of “The Great American Eclipse.” Pick a place from this list, pack a picnic and get your solar eclipse glasses ready.

Events are organized alphabetically by the city in which they occur.

If you know of an event we should consider adding to this page, you can email us here.

 

MISSOURI

Total Eclipse of the Sun

Where: Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Arrow Rock, Missouri

When: Aug. 20 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. (star gazing walk), Aug. 21 10 a.m. – 2:38 p.m. (astronomy lecture and eclipse viewing)

 

Bonne Terre Aire Festival

Where: Bonne Terre Airport, Bonne Terre, Missouri

When: Aug. 19 – 21, 2-day festival and eclipse viewing to follow

 

Solar Eclipse Celebration

Where: St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – end of eclipse

 

Hidden Figures: African Americans, Eclipses and Astronomy

Where: Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Bufordville, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

 

Totality – Eclipse Viewing Festival

Where: Chesterfiled, Missouri (St. Louis area)

When: Aug. 21, see website for specific times and viewing places

 

Eclipse: Journey with the Sun Across the Gans Creek Wild Area

Where: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 

Show Me Totality

Where: Columbia, Missouri

When: Aug. 20 – 21, see website for specific event details

 

Solar Eclipse Showdown

Where: Washington State Park, De Soto, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 9 a.m. – end of eclipse

 

Light and Shadow Eclipse Events

Where: Fulton, Missouri

When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific event details

 

Solar Eclipse Event

Where: Mastodon State Historic Site, Imperial, Missouri.

When: Aug. 21 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

 

Capital Eclipse Celebration

Where: Jefferson City, Missouri

When: Aug. 19 – 21, see website for specific event details

 

Total Solar Eclipse – Safe Viewing Point

Where: Missouri State Museum, Jefferson City, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

City Market Total Eclipse Watch Party

Where: City Market, Kansas City, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., see website for specific event details

 

Lathrop Sesquicentennial and 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Where: Lathrop, Missouri

When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific festival details

 

Total Eclipse of the Battlefield

Where: Battle of Lexington State Historic Site, Lexington, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

 

Midnight at Noon

Where: Owensville, MO

When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific festival details

 

Eclipsing Park University

Where: Jenkin and Barbara David Theater at Alumni Hall, Park University, Parkville, Missouri

When: Aug. 20 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

 

#TotalEclipseOfThePark

Where: Comfort Field Parking Lot, Park University, Parkville, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 12:30 p.m. – end of eclipse

 

Perryville SolarFest

Where: Perryville, Missouri

When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific festival details

 

Eclipse Viewing in E.H. Young Riverfront Park

Where: E.H. Young Park, Riverside, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Total Eclipse of the Katy Bicycle Ride

Where: Starts at Katy Trail entrance in Rocheport and ends in Jefferson City

When: Aug. 21 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

Get Your Eclipse on Route 66

Where: St. Clair, Missouri

When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific event details

 

A Special Note about St. Joseph

St. Joseph has a long history of science, astrology, and astronomy. It’s also the third best place in the country to see The Great American Eclipse.

To celebrate the historical moment, St. Joseph has many events planned throughout the weekend.

Most of the historical attractions are offering special solar eclipse related exhibits leading up to and during the eclipse.

The Pony Express National Museum: Aug 18-21

  • Astronomy lesson inside the 1860’s, one room school house
  • Meet living history character-Mabel Loving, who shared her experience of the total eclipse she experienced in Garden City, Kansas in 1918.

Mount Mora Cemetery: Aug. 20

  • Hear from living history characters like Mary Alicia Ownen’s story about her friends the Proctor family and their connection to astronomy.

Missouri Western State University: Aug. 20

  • Guest speakers: Astronomy Magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich, Meteorologist Bryan Busby, Astronomy Professor Mike Reynolds and Astronomer Derrick Pitts

Walter Cronkite Memorial:

  • Extended hours
  • Space displays
  • Photo-op with a real NASA space suit
  • Special eclipse shows at Bushman Planetarium.

Rolling Hills Library: Aug. 19

  • The nature of solar eclipses: learn the facts about solar eclipses and how to safely view one.

Rosecrans Memorial Airport: Aug 21

  • Large camping and RV area
  • Amateur and professional astronomers with telescopes
  • Astronomy Magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich will have a running commentary from the airport that can be heard on radio stations.

If none of those catch your fancy, you can view the eclipse from these locations in St. Joesph:

  • East Hills Mall
  • Civic Center Park
  • St. Joseph Museum/Glore Psychiatric Museum
  • St. Joseph Public Libraries
  • Remington Nature Center
  • Heritage Park Softball complex
  • Albrecht-Kemper museum of Art

 

Solar Eclipse Event

Where: Felix Valle House Historic Site, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Whispering Eclipse

Where: Hawn State Park, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

When: Aug. 19 7 p.m. (blues concert), Aug. 20 7 p.m. (eclipse lecture), Aug. 21 11:50 a.m. – end of eclipse

 

Total Eclipse of the Trail

Where: Trails End Landmark, Sedalia, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 10:30 a.m. – end of eclipse

 

Ring of Fire

Where: Meramec State Park, Sullivan, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Total Solar Eclipse Event

Where: Washington, Missouri

When: Aug. 19 – 21, see website for specific celebration details

 

Celebrate the 2017 Total Eclipse

Where: Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood, Missouri

When: Aug. 21 10 a.m. – end of eclipse

 

KANSAS

Eclipse Aire Fest

Where: Amelia Earhart Airport, Atchison, Kansas

When: Aug. 21 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

Total Eclipse of the Heartland

Where: Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas

When: Aug. 20, 7p.m. (presentation), Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (eclipse viewing and other events)

 

Total Eclipse in the Parks (Johnson County)

Where: Antioch Park, Merriam, Kansas, Theatre in the Park, Shawnee, Kansas and Heritage Park, Olathe, Kansas

When: Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

 

Kansas City T-Bones Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Where: Community America Ballpark, Kansas City, Kansas

When: Aug. 21 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

 

Solar Eclipse Watch Party

Where: Leavenworth Landing Park, Leavenworth, Kansas

When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

 

Total Solar Eclipse in the Black Squirrel City

Where: Lakeview Sports Complex, Marysville, Kansas

When: Aug. 21, 11:37 a.m. – end of eclipse

 

Solar Eclipse Event

Where: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Strong City, Kansas

When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 

Celebrate the Eclipse!

Where: Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Topeka, Kansas

When: Aug. 19 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Eclipse in the Heartland Events

Where: Troy, Highland and Elwood, Kansas

When: Aug. 20 – 21, see website for specific event details