Known as the "Show-Me State," Missouri is located in the midwestern region of the United States and is known for its diverse geography, ranging from the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi River. From its rich history and cultural heritage to its beautiful natural resources, there's no shortage of fascinating facts to learn about this state. Missouri played a vital role in American history, particularly in the Westward Expansion and the Civil War. It was also the birthplace of Mark Twain and home to famous figures such as Harry Truman and Walt Disney.
The state also has a strong agricultural industry, particularly in the production of soybeans, corn, and hogs. With a diverse range of activities from visiting historical sites to experiencing the state's vibrant music scene, Missouri offers something for everyone. Whether you're a history buff, a trivia enthusiast, or just looking to learn something new, Missouri trivia questions offer a fun and educational way to explore all that this state has to offer.
34 Missouri Trivia Questions Ranked From Easiest to Hardest (Updated for 2024)
- What macropod, whose native environment is many, many miles from the Kansas City area, is the mascot of the University of Missouri at Kansas City?
Answer: Kangaroo
- Lake of the Ozarks is a body of water in this state, which is nicknamed "The Show Me State."
Answer: Missouri
- From April 1860 to October 1861, Sacramento's B.F. Hastings building served as the western terminus of what historic service, whose eastern end began at St. Joseph, Missouri?
Answer: Pony Express
- Harpoon in Boston, Sand Creek in Wisconsin, and O'Fallon in Missouri all have a chocolate-flavored product which is what type of beer?
Answer: Stout
- Which wealth management service sounds like it’s just one guy who will help you with your money, but it’s actually a century-old firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri that has 19,000 advisors throughout the U.S. and Canada?
Answer: Edward Jones
- In 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency permanently relocated 500 residents from Times Beach in what Midwestern state because of widespread dioxin contamination?
Answer: Missouri
- The Global Operations Headquarters of Mastercard is in what city in St. Charles County, Missouri? The city name kind of sounds like an Irish version of the last name of the host of NBC’s “Tonight Show.”
Answer: O'Fallon
- What chain of bakery-cafe and fast casual restaurants, which was founded in St. Louis in 1987, has its current headquarters in Sunset Hills, Missouri?
Answer: Panera Bread
- One of several U.S. state capitals named after a President, Jefferson City is the capital of what Midwestern state?
Answer: Missouri
- In Chic Young’s syndicated newspaper comic strip “Blondie”, Joplin, Missouri is the hometown of the titular character, her husband Dagwood Bumstead, her children Alexander and Cookie, and what family dog with a floral name?
Answer: Daisy
- What 1985 video game begins with a planned departure from Independence, Missouri?
Answer: The Oregon Trail
- What American author, popularly known by a pseudonym, considered Hartford the most beautiful city in the United States and settled there to write what are considered his bildungsroman masterpieces? Coincidentally, this Missouri-born man lived next door to Harriet Beecher Stowe while in Hartford.
Answer: Mark Twain
- Immediately before they relocated to Sacramento in 1985, the Kings played home games in what Midwest city that's pretty used to regal sports teams?
Answer: Kansas City
- Missouri borders 8 states, tied for the most with Tennessee. Covering most of its eastern side, with what state does Missouri share its longest border, stretching 331 miles and just edging out Arkansas for the title?
Answer: Illinois
- A side wheeler steamboat that sank in the Missouri River near Kansas City was rediscovered in 1988 and became the source of a popular KC-area museum that preserves artifacts from the wreck. What was the name of this steamboat?
Answer: Arabia
- There is a National Military Park in northwest Arkansas near the Missouri border that protects the site of a Civil War battle won by the Union that helped gain control of the border state Missouri. What is the name of this battle?
Answer: Pea Ridge
- Although leveled by a tornado three years later, Sam and Bud Walton opened a Ben Franklin store in the Ruskin Heights neighborhood in the 1950s in what state?
Answer: Missouri
- St. Louis native Taylor Momsen played Jenny Humphrey on what CW teen drama series set in New York City?
Answer: Gossip Girl
- A yeti-free hiking and biking thoroughfare in Arkansas and Missouri lends what name to Walmart's line of outdoor equipment?
Answer: Ozark Trail
- Connecting St. Louis, Missouri with East St. Louis, Illinois, the Eads Bridge, which was built in the 19th century, is the first bridge across what American river?
Answer: Mississippi River
- What unofficial nickname, which is 20 units more than a similarly-named classified Air Force facility, is Walmart's mysterious and secretive Jane, Missouri data center known by?
Answer: Area 71
- While the name “Budweiser” makes it sound like your beer came straight from Germany, the brew is actually all-American. Which Midwestern state is home to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery?
Answer: Missouri
- The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed both Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, repealed an earlier "Compromise" named after what other state?
Answer: Missouri
- Maine was admitted as a state in 1820 as part of a "Compromise" that admitted what other state to the union, maintaining the balance of free and slave states??
Answer: Missouri
- Since 2008, Global Entrepreneur Week has inspired young people around the world to pursue their wildest dreams. While it’s a global celebration, it was started by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which calls which Midwestern American state home?
Answer: Missouri
- What was the name of the Missouri high school teacher who created LGBT History Month in 1994?
Answer: Rodney Wilson
- Kansas City's Christopher S. Bond Bridge, which carries I-29/I-35/US-71 over the Missouri River, was completed in 2010 as a replacement for what bridge, which was shortly demolished thereafter?
Answer: The Paseo Bridge
- What now-defunct airline was headquartered in Kansas City from the 1940s until the 1970s, and nearly moved to Dallas before Missouri officials moved to keep it in state by relocating it to St. Louis?
Answer: Trans World Airlines (TWA)
- The presidential library and resting place of what U.S. President are located in Independence, Missouri?
Answer: Truman
- In 1968, Walmart opened its first stores outside of Arkansas. Name EITHER of the two stores in which Walmart opened a store that year (besides Arkansas).
Answer: Missouri and Oklahoma
- Let's exclude Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS. Now there are three remaining towns or cities in the Kansas City "Metropolitan Area" with population of more than 100,000. Two of these are located in the state of Kansas (Overland Park, Olathe). What is the one remaining that is located in Missouri?
Answer: Independence
- The Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association later became what conference, home to Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, and Oklahoma, that combined with the Southwest Conference to form the Big 12 in 1996?
Answer: Big Eight
- What is the name of the oldest building in Disneyland that once served as the park's lumber mill? It now sits among the rest of Main Street's buildings as a tribute to Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri.
Answer: The Opera House
- A 1903 house in Kansas City's Roanoke Park neighborhood is preserved by the Missouri Parks Department as the home and studio of what Midwestern painter and muralist?
Answer: Thomas Hart Benton
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About the Author
Eli Robinson is the Chief Trivia Officer at Water Cooler Trivia. He was once in a Bruce Springsteen cover band called F Street Band.