The History Of Branson, Missouri
Roots
Roots
In 1882, a man named Reuben Branson opened a general store in the area. Reuben was raised as a farm boy, and was only able to get a home-based education. However, he later received formal education at his own expense later in his life. This allowed him to be a teacher in Osage County, where he met and married his wife Mary T. Cooper. They moved to Taney County in 1882 and he opened his general store. This store eventually became the post office, and the area was named Branson, after the owner and post master. Though he later sold his store to William Hawkings, he became the Taney County Assessor.
Growth
Though Branson is a relatively new city compared to cities back east, it has grown very quickly. Marvel Cave, now a part of the Silver Dollar City amusement park, was bought in 1894 and has long served as a tourist attraction. In 1904, when a bank, hotel and livery were built, resorts started to appear, catering to fisherman and travelers. Already, it was starting to be a resort town. However, the town wasn't officially incorporated until April 1st, 1912, with 1,200 people then residing in the town.
The People
Many well-known people traveled through the area of Branson, Missouri throughout the years. Jesse James and his brother Frank roamed this land, and were heroes that are still celebrated today. Harold Bell Wright's novel Shepherd of the Hills, written in 1907, was the first to throw Branson into the tourist limelight. The first five episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies were set in the Branson area, and were inspired by creator Paul Henning's trip to the Ozarks as a boy. And the Presley family was the first to take their tour to Branson in 1967.
The Attractions
Tourism skyrocketed in the early 1980's with the opening of several theaters and concert venues, especially the 7,500 seat Swiss Villa Amphitheater in nearby Lampe, Missouri. Silver Dollar City has also always been a popular site. Though it started as just a cave to visit and hold square dances, in the 1960's electricity and cement staircases were added to create what is now a recreated frontier-town theme park.
Nowadays
Branson, Missouri has over 50 live performance theaters with more than 59,000 seatsmore seats than Broadway and Las Vegas combined. It is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World" for a reason! It also offers mountain lake frescos, over 200 shops, and an amusement park in Silver Dollar City. Lake Taneycomo is annually stoked with three-quarters of a million rainbow trout each year, making it an ideal location for fishing aficionados as well.
Visiting Branson, Missouri
On Vacationfun.com, Branson, Missouri was rated the number one for domestic travel planning in 2008. If you're visiting on your own for a restful and scenic vacation, you might want to consider a hotel or private cabin. However, if you're traveling with family, you should consider looking into Branson vacation homes for a comfortable stay in this great city.
by: Bryan Messmer
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