Excelsior Springs, Missouri, located approximately 30 miles northeast of Kansas City Missouri in Clay and Ray Counties, has a population of 11,084. The area around Excelsior Springs has 20 mineral springs which are responsible for the town’s early growth and notoriety. Many travelers came to drink from the springs for their curative properties. Excelsior Springs is served by the Excelsior Springs School District.
I drove through Richmond the other day; this is a nice little town that has a lot of character. David Whitmer's home site is located right down town. The home is no longer there; it has long since been torn down and another business building has been erected in its place. Richmond is not a very big town so this location will not be hard to find. Not far from the David Whitmer's home site is a graveyard where you can find the Monument for the three witnesses. I visited both places and found the Cemetery a little more satisfying if you are looking for historical places in Missouri. At the cemetery you will find the three witnesses monument but also several graves from the early settlement of the area. These grave stones have weathered a lot and some are broken up; so they are encased in a larger block of cement. At the monument there are two different markers that explain what has happened to the area. This is a beautiful cemetery and well taken care of. It is well worth the trip to see.