Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
On a February afternoon in 1866, armed men rode into Liberty and robbed the Clay County Savings Association, widely remembered as the first successful daylight bank robbery in peacetime America and often tied to Jesse James. The bank building still stands on the courthouse square as a museum, one of several reminders that this Clay County seat has seen more than its share of history.
Founded in the 1820s and now home to about 30,000 people, Liberty is also where Joseph Smith and other Latter-day Saint leaders were held through the winter of 1838 to 1839. A visitors center now tells that story around a cutaway reconstruction of the jail. William Jewell College, founded in 1849, gives the town a leafy campus and the stately Jewell Hall.
The historic square has shops, restaurants and a community theater, while Belvoir Winery fills a former Odd Fellows home on the edge of town. Kansas City is about 20 minutes south, and the Jesse James Birthplace in Kearney is a short drive north.
The old Clay County Savings Association building, robbed in 1866 in what is called the first successful daylight peacetime bank robbery in the United States. Inside are the original vault, period teller cages and exhibits on the robbery and the James gang. Guided visits are short and lively.
Run by the Clay County Historical Society, this small museum on the square collects pioneer tools, Civil War items, medical equipment, clothing and everyday objects from the county's past. Volunteers share stories about Liberty's early families. Opening hours are limited, so check before visiting.
A visitors center run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, built around a cutaway reconstruction of the small stone jail where Joseph Smith and companions were held in the winter of 1838 to 1839. Guides explain the story with paintings and displays. Admission is free and tours take about 30 minutes.
A branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library built around the restored mid-1800s Woodneath farmhouse, which now hosts a story center devoted to oral history, recording and storytelling. The grounds have walking paths and gardens. Look for its talks, workshops and family events on the calendar.
A private liberal arts college founded in 1849, with a hilltop campus of lawns and brick buildings overlooking the town. Its oldest building, Jewell Hall, was used by Union troops during the Civil War. The grounds are open for a walk, and the college hosts concerts and performing arts events.
Liberty's square surrounds the Clay County Courthouse and is lined with 19th-century brick buildings holding antique shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Seasonal events, farmers markets and holiday lights keep it busy. Park once and walk to the bank museum, theater and county museum.
A winery and event venue set in the brick buildings of a former Odd Fellows home built in the early 1900s, with a tasting room serving its own wines and a patio overlooking the grounds. Evening ghost tours of the old buildings are popular in fall. Reserve ahead for dinners and tours.
A private nature preserve with a nature center and several miles of trails through woods, prairie and along a creek, a peaceful place to watch birds and wildflowers. Programs for children and adults run year round. Trails are free to use, and donations help keep the sanctuary going.
A small community theater company on Liberty's historic square, staging plays, musicals and youth productions through the year in an intimate space. Seats are close to the stage and tickets are reasonably priced. Combine a show with dinner at one of the restaurants around the square.
No reviews yet. Been to Liberty? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Liberty? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Kbh3rd, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Dennis mccoy mo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Dennis mccoy mo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: 25or6to4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The original uploader was Americasroof at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Publichall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jacob Robertson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: 25or6to4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: 25or6to4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: 25or6to4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: LDS Church Archives; Mays, Kenneth R.;, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: KC photos 23, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
