Scenic Missouri

Together we preserve and protect Missouri’s scenic heritage.

Our diverse landscape of prairies, mountains, mighty rivers, and clear streams reveals Missouri’s natural splendor. But the ugly truth is that our roadside character too often presents a terribly unfortunate image of our state. When our highways are known for an abundance of billboards, junkyards, and other forms of blight rather than for our remarkable landscapes, we are sending the wrong message about who we are and what we care about.

Our mission is to protect and promote the scenic character of our communities and countryside.

To this end, we work with communities, governments, and other nonprofits to reduce visual blight and promote scenic tourism. Through advocacy, education, and partnerships, we are reclaiming Missouri’s endangered scenic heritage.

Scenic Byways

Ozark Run Scenic Byway Plans Advance

Plans are moving forward to designated a new scenic byway in Missouri. The route will travel 78 miles across two counties, showcasing some of the state's most spectacular…

Our Impact

Since 1993, we’ve carried out a critical mission to protect and enhance Missouri’s scenic beauty and visual character. We are the only statewide nonprofit focused on the visual quality of our beautiful state.

Scenic Missouri believes that beauty, whether along the roadside, in the city or the countryside, lifts the human spirit. Beauty enhances economic vitality, protects property values, and encourages tourism. While change is inevitable, ugliness is not.

Scenic Communities

We work with communities large and small across Missouri to enhance their visual character. We promote local sign ordinances that reduce blight, preserve community character, and provide resources on other issues such as cell tower locations, streetscape design, and tree ordinances.

Scenic Byways Heritage Tourism

Scenic Missouri led the effort to develop the Missouri Scenic Byways Program, and by statute is represented on the Missouri Scenic Byways Advisory Committee. Our goal is to increase Missouri’s tourism assets by helping to build one of the premier scenic byways programs in the nation,

Green Streets and Highways Initiative

Our Green Streets Initiative encourages state and local highway departments to ensure that environmental and community values are incorporated into transportation design. We advocate for projects that incorporate strong aesthetic standards, accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians and enhance the surrounding environment.