SHARING STORIES OF THE CROSSROADS
We have created an amazing regional history museum and expanded educational destination for Springfield and its visitors. Located on Route 66, our historic Park Central Square buildings have been restored to preserve the rich history of our city. The expanded museum space allows guests to explore the past using interactive learning features.
GALLERIES
Our six permanent galleries tell the stories of significant events in Springfield and create distinct and intentional dialogues about objects, individuals, and history– dialogues that will foster examinations of unique aspects of Springfield, Greene County and its people. A rich and vast collection of artifacts, photographs, and the “voices of history” are combined using innovative technologies.
EDUCATIONAL TRUNK SHOWS
The History Museum on the Square’s Traveling Trunk Program provides local students and community groups an opportunity to experience Springfield and Greene County history through hands-on artifacts and reproductions, primary source material, and other learning aids. This program can be presented by the teacher renting the trunk or scheduled with a designated volunteer from the History Museum on the Square.
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These programs are presented in a “show and tell” format with items passed among participants or set out for a hands-on “pass by”. Specific points of Springfield and Greene County history are interspersed with a general social or cultural history of the time and are interpreted with the help of reproduction photographs and objects, and actual artifacts (may include clothing, household items, school items, toys, etc.), maps and primary source material are available. All of these aids help the interpreter make history “come alive” for the participants. Staff will consult with the teacher or group leader to customize the presentation.
Presentations generally last 45-60 minutes. Occasionally, two presentations at the same site may be scheduled back-to-back when space for a large group is not available. Groups are requested to give two weeks advance notice when scheduling a trunk presentation. If a designated volunteer from the History Museum on the Square is not presenting the program, the individual renting the trunk is responsible for transportation of the trunk to and from the presentation site.
Learn about the Osage Nation in Missouri, Lewis & Clark’s travels, living conditions during WWII, and more. For more information or to schedule a Traveling Trunk Program, please contact Palmer at palmer@historymuseumonthesquare.org or 417-831-1976.
Interested in bringing a trunk show to your classroom?
OUR BLOG
UPCOMING EVENTS
Field Trip Friday
Sharing Stories at the Crossroads is what the History Museum on the Square does best.
We have an exciting new program to assist parents with learning pods, virtual learning, and homeschooling. Every Friday at 2 pm, homeschool and pod learning elementary students can join the History Museum on the Square for a history program and gallery tour that supports Missouri Learning Standards. Each Friday from now until May 2021, the Museum will have a rotating program topic.
Each program is geared toward the 2nd – 5th-grade level. This program is free to both adults and children with a generous gift from the Darr Family Foundation. This includes admission to the museum and the program. Pre-registration required. One adult must accompany children. Each program is limited to 10 total people due to COVID restrictions.
Field Trip Friday Program Topics Include:
The Pioneers and Founding of Springfield, MO.
Examine Springfield’s origins and incorporation in this journey through time. We will discuss the causes of westward expansion, the lives of Springfield’s first settlers, the former city of North Springfield, and the significance of the Frisco railroad to our city’s rise in stature. Grades 3-5.
The Civil War in Southwest Missouri
Take a look at southwest Missouri’s role in the Civil War. We will discuss the conflict’s causes and consequences, the specific battles that took place in the area, and the daily life of soldiers and civilians during wartime. Grades 3-5.
Native American History
Learn the history of the local Native American presence spanning hundreds of years. We will discuss the local tribes, the importance of the buffalo in daily life, the practical relevance of arts and crafts, and the impact of westward expansion. Grades 2-5.
The Lewis & Clark Expedition
Join us as we probe the adventures of the Corps of Discovery. We will discuss the events that led to the Louisiana Purchase, the daily life of an explorer on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the consequences of their journey for the United States and beyond. Grades 3-5.
African American Heritage
Created under the direction of Springfield’s African American leaders the African American Heritage Trunk will cover a variety of topics including sports, music, education, and the importance of community. Grades 2-5.
Saturday, February 6th 2:00 pm
Join us in person or virtually as we host a free program featuring the newly created African American Heritage Trunk on Saturday, February 6th at 2 pm in the historic Fox Theatre, located at 157 Park Central Square.
The trunk is the newest addition to the History Museum on the Square’s Educational Trunk Program, which offers schools and community organizations the opportunity to rent educational trunks covering different themes pertaining to Springfield and Greene County history. Inside each of the trunks are artifacts, replicas, and educational resources that promote a hands-on approach to learning about history.
With the help of local African American leaders who serve on the museum’s African American Heritage Advisory Board, the museum has created an educational trunk and program that appropriately and thoughtfully address the African American heritage of southwest Missouri. Board members include Gwen Marshall, SPS Equity and Diversity Specialist, Clarence Brewer, Artist and Musician, Toni Robinson, President of the Springfield NAACP, Wes Pratt, MSU Chief Diversity Officer, Cheryl Clay, Former President of the Springfield NAACP, and Father Moses Berry, Priest at the Orthodox Church in America and Curator of the Ozarks Afro-American Heritage Museum.
The trunk and program are made possible by grant funding from the Missouri Humanity Council’s African American Heritage Grant Program.
Reserve your spot in person or virtually here.
The African American Heritage Trunk program will be added to the Field Trip Friday rotation. These Field Trips are every Friday at 2:00 pm and free with registration thanks to the Darr Family Foundation.
A Tale of Two Killers The 1918 Flu Epidemic and Polio in Springfield
Saturday, January 30, 2021
2 pm
Museum Curator Joan Hampton-Porter will explore the 1918 influenza pandemic and the polio outbreak in Springfield’s history. She will be pulling out special artifacts from our collections that were used during these health crises. This event will be held in person at the Fox Theatre and virtually.
Capacity will not exceed 50 people. The lecture is free for museum members and $10/person for nonmembers.
Queen City Quest
Saturday, April 10, 2021
History Museum on the Square is excited to present Queen City Quest – a one-day fundraiser scavenger hunt challenge that will be fun for friends, families, and co-workers!
Participation is open to all and carrying out the hunt will be simple and fun. Players will use GooseChase, a free and easy to use an app, to find challenges, complete questions, and track their progress. Teams can also track opponents’ progress with the action feed and automatically updated leaderboard during the game, adding a healthy dose of competition!
After registering, you will be sent the link/information you need to create your team and be ready to play when the game begins. Maximum members for one team is six and each registered team member will receive a commemorative Bandana!
Registration will start on February 1, 2021.
Early Bird registration
- $25 for each adult and $20 for children 12 and under.
Registration from March 11th – April 4th
- $35 for each adult and $25 for children 12 and under.
Late Registration after April 5th
- $40 for each adult and $30 for children 12 and under.
Queen City Quest is an excellent way to raise awareness of the History Museum on the Square while raising funds to support the museum’s operation while sharing our community’s rich history.
Sponsorship Opportunities are available. For more information, contact Charlotte McCoy.
VISIT THE MUSEUM
PHOTO ARCHIVES
Browse through hundreds of historic photos of Springfield, Missouri and its surrounding areas.
CONTACT US
OUR TEAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
John Sellars
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Krista Adams
BUSINESS MANAGER
Charlotte McCoy
CURATOR
Joan Hampton-Porter
ARCHIVIST
Lindsey Young
MUSEUM EDUCATOR
Palmer Johnson
GUEST EXPERIENCE MANAGER
Katie Schoorl
SUPPORT OUR VISION
Be a part of the story of History Museum on the Square by financially supporting our vision. All contributions made go directly to the museum’s development and preservation of history in our community. History Museum on the Square is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
154 Park Central Square
Springfield, MO 65806
PO Box 2963
Springfield, MO 65801