1. “Which One Is Missouri Again?”
Most people tend to lump Missouri in with all of the other squarish fly-over states in the Midwest.
Well, there are plenty of reasons for out-of-towners to visit this uniquely shaped state. Try not to get too annoyed with outsiders’ general lack of knowledge when it comes to Midwest geography.
2. “Are You Saying ‘Miss U’?”
If we were saying “Miss U” we’d probably be talking about Mississippi University. The top dog when it comes to college sports here is Mizzou, home to the Tigers.
3. “Wait, So Kansas City Is In Missouri?”
For the last time, just because the word “Kansas” is in its name doesn’t mean this city has to actually be in Kansas. Both Missouri and Kansas share this huge metropolitan area with a majority of the cool stuff landing in the Show-Me State.
4. “Is That The Springfield From The Simpsons?”
Unfortunately, several years ago writer Matt Groening admitted that the Springfield the Simpsons are from is actually set in Oregon. Whatever. His loss.
5. “How Do You Get To The Top Of The Arch?”
The first time people see the St. Louis arch, many are shocked you can actually go up in it. The view is great, but cramming into a tiny car with a bunch of strangers while you slowly get pulled to the top? Not so much.
6. “Does Everyone Here Cheer For The Cardinals?”
When it comes to baseball in Missouri, fans get pretty polarized. All of the people in the eastern part of the state will be rooting for the Cards, while the Western half is filled with die-hard Royals fans. One state. Two awesome teams.
7. “Why Is Everyone Drinking Budweiser?”
Introduced to America in 1876, St. Louis has a long history of pumping out cans of Bud for the rest of the country to enjoy. This is one place where drinking local means the same thing as drinking macro.
8. “Why Do You Burn Your Meat?”
To many, it’s hard to understand how eating something that’s burnt can be appealing in any sort of way. Those people have never tried burnt ends.
Famously coming out of the Kansas City area, burnt ends are noted for their juiciness thanks to their high fat content.
9. “Are The Ram Leavings?”
Recently tons of rumors have been floating around about the Rams possibly moving to Los Angeles. It’s not like people in Missouri have an inside source…they’ve got access to the same information as everyone else.
However, the latest report does say they’re staying for a bit longer.
10. “How Do You Deep Fry Pasta?”
Deep-frying pasta is as easy as deep-frying anything else. You just bread the noodle and toss it in some piping hot oil. After trying the St. Louis Classic, fried ravioli, you’ll be wondering why this trend is taking so long to catch on elsewhere.
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11. “What’s The Forecast For Today?”
Nestled deep in the Midwest, trying to predict the weather in Missouri can seem like a game of chance sometimes. It’s best to just prepare for absolutely any possible scenario.
12. “What’s A Billiken?”
Known around this state for being the mascot of Saint Louis University athletics, a Billiken was a charm doll created by an art teacher from Kansas City. Purchasing one of these guys is said to bring good luck.
13. “Why Is It Called The Show-Me State?”
This nickname might seem a bit strange, but it’s had a long history in Missouri.
The most widely accepted origin story has to do with a Missourian congressman refusing to be impressed by eloquent words from politicians claiming that he needed to be SHOWN something before he could believe it.
14. “Shouldn’t We Be Hiding If The Storm Sirens Are Going Off?”
When a storm siren goes off in Missouri, the recommended procedure is to head to safety. Unfortunately, the first response for most Missourians is to step outside with a beer and watch the clouds roll in.
15. “You Guys Actually Go Caving?”
With over 6,000 caves in Missouri, it’s no surprise that this state is full of spelunkers. Who said the only cool stuff to see in this country was above ground?
16. “Are We Supposed To Eat These?”
One popular Missourian pastime that you won’t find everywhere is frog-gigging. With tons of people around the Show-Me State using tiny pronged spears to hunt these hoppy critters, don’t be surprised if a few of their deep-fried legs end up on your dinner plate.
17. “So You Just Sit On An Inner Tube And Float?”
Another favorite activity in Missouri is river floating. It’s as simple as it sounds: find some sort of slowly flowing water, grab a few friends with rafts, a case of beer, and you’re on your way to a very relaxing afternoon.
18. “Did You Know There’s A Cuba And A Paris Here?”
While there are less than 5,000 people living in Cuba and Paris combined, most Missourians will be well aware that these two cities are in their state, mostly thanks to road signs.
19. “Is Your Barbecue Really Thaaaaat Good?”
Yes, yes it is. Slow-smoked in a pit before being covered by thick, flavorful sauces, no barbecue is as succulent or as delicious as the stuff you’ll find in the Kansas City area.
20. “What’s Provel Cheese?”
Famous for giving St. Louis Pizza its unique twist, Provel cheese is a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone that’s known for maintaining its gooeyness after being cooked. You won’t find this on most grocery store shelves.
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21. “Why Are They Throwing Rolls At Me?”
If you’re headed to Lambert’s Café, here’s a heads up…they throw dinner rolls at you. Originating in Sikeston, MO, this place is now famous around the entire country thanks to their crazy antics.
22. “How Do You Pronounce Missouri Properly?”
Even people from the Show-Me State can’t agree on a single way to say “Missouri.” Depending on the person you’re talking to its either “Missour-ee” or it’s “Missour-uh.” Everyone thinks they’re right and they’ll be willing to fight you over it.
23. “How Much Butter Exactly Goes Into Gooey Butter Cake?”
With a name like that, it’s no wonder many outsiders sense an underlying fear for their life as they bite into this Missouri favorite.
While it might seem as if you’re basically biting into a stick of butter, there are tons of other unhealthy ingredients in this treat as well. Don’t worry though, it’s worth every calorie.
24. “Why Are There So Many Mark Twain Things?”
One hometown hero that will never leave, the writer that created the characters of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn is from Florida, Missouri.
Thanks to that fact, there are now tons of memorials, statues, and even festivals around this state all commemorating Mark Twain and everything he did with his pen.
25. “Can Tractors Just Drive On The Road Like That?”
With a huge farming culture in rural Missouri, it’s not uncommon to encounter tractors on the roads. Not surprisingly, farmers have to get from one place to another just like everyone else. Try not to get too frustrated, as the farming industry plays an essential role in this state’s economy. You’ll be able to pass soon…hopefully.
26. “How Do You Play Cornhole?”
Playing cornhole is as simple as tossing bags filled with corn at a target 45 feet away. Land on the board, get a point…land in the hole, get 3!
27. “So People Here Actually Cheer For The Kansas City Chiefs?”
Again, just because the word “Kansas” is in this team’s name doesn’t mean they’re actually headquartered in Kansas. If you’re anywhere on the western side of Missouri, you’re sure to encounter a sea of red come Sunday.
28. “Why Would You Ever Leave Missouri?”
Home to a awesomely fresh food, easy access to two huge cities, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, it’s hard to make an argument against living in Missouri. It doesn’t take long in this state to realize just how special the Show-Me State really is.
What’s the question everyone asks you just because you’re from Missouri? Tell us in the comments below!
