Lebanon, Missouri is a charming retirement community in the Ozarks. Senior Travel Genie offers resources for restaurants, RV parks and more in Lebanon.

Lebanon MO History

As America expanded west from St. Louis, a road has always run through Lebanon, Missouri. At first it was just a rough Indian trail, as tribes like the Wyota and Osage roamed the Ozarks hunting for game. During the Civil War that trail became known as the “Wire Road” because of the telegraph lines installed along it between St. Louis and Springfield. During the Civil War, Lebanon was continually occupied, usually by Union troops trying to protect the telegraph line. Then, in the late 1920’s, Route 66 was born and roughly followed that same path the Indians had marked. Today the road is called I-44.

Lebanon took its name from the Tennessee hometown of one of its leading citizens, the Reverend Benjamin Hooker. Perhaps the most unique piece in Lebanon’s history is the magnetic water. A worker digging a city water well in 1889 found that his tools could pick up nails. The water had magnetized them. Bathing in the magnetic waters was said to have healing powers. Visitors came to bathe in them to experience this healing power.

Lebanon Missouri – Aluminum Boat Capital of the World

Today Lebanon, MO is known as the “aluminum boat capital of the world” with companies such as Tracker, Lowe’s, Landau, Generation 3, Sundancer and Osagian all having factories here.