Branson

Branson, Missouri, is a shinning example of how a little town with a big dream can make that dream come true. Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a "one-horse town" would have been a pretty accurate description of Branson. There just wasn't much there back in those days. There were five stores, a two-lane highway, and a population of about 3,000 souls.

But things were about to change. The big changes had actually begun about 1949, but nobody knew just how great the changes were going to be. Located near Branson was a natural wonder called Marvel Cave. Tours were conducted.

Hugo and Mary Herschend bought the Marvel Cave and started holding square dances in the cave. In the same year, Steve Miller (an artist) and Joe Todd (a businessman), had a stage constructed along with an enormous, beautifully lit Adoration Scene on the Mount Branson bluff that overlooked the
downtown area of Branson (such as it was). The nativity scene figures were about 28 feet tall. The lights were turned on the first day of December. It didn't take long for word to spread, and each December 1, crowds of thousands would gather to witness the lighting. That's how it started.

Today, Branson, Missouri, is called "The Live Music Capital of the World," and that's a pretty good description of what goes on in Branson. Out on U.S. Highway 76 (commonly known simply as "the strip," there are hundreds of live country music performances, some by very well-known performers, every single night. You can take your pick of which type of country music you want to see performed live.

All (or at least almost all) of the greats of country music own clubs or work at clubs out on "the strip" at some point every year.