Special & Past Exhibits
Beautifully situated on the first floor right off of Park Central Square is our temporary gallery for traveling exhibits. These exhibits give our guests the chance to experience unique displays for a limited time.
Special Exhibits
Democracy in Action!
Democracy in Action! This exhibit connects citizens of all ages to the history of civic engagement in our community. From voting rights to activism, visitors will explore the concepts that our democracy was built on and learn about ways they can participate today. With the Civics on the Square program, the museum has identified four…
The Route 66 Series: 1926 – 2026
5 Years 5 Exhibits 5 Series Sponsors Thank you to our Series Sponsor – O’Reilly Automotive and Missouri State Libraries – Ozarks Studies Institute The Route 66 Series will culminate with The Mother Road’s 100th birthday in 2026. June – September, 2025 Year four of the Series showcasing the Culture of the times…
Past Exhibits
Checking In: Iconic Hotels & Motels of Greene County
Checking In: Iconic Hotels & Motels of Greene County Discover the stories of iconic lodgings along Route 66 that shaped our region, from charming cabins to landmark hotels. Checking In! is the third of five annual exhibits featuring the history, culture, and impact of Route 66. The Route 66 Series will culminate with The Mother…
Springfield’s Leading Ladies: Creating Legacies
Springfield’s Leading Ladies: Creating Legacies March 9, 2024 – June 2, 2024 This temporary exhibit will run until June 2nd, inviting visitors to explore the profound impact of women in business, politics, and community organizations throughout Springfield’s history. Springfield’s Leading Ladies: Creating Legacies delves into the inspiring stories of resilient trailblazers who left an indelible mark…
Christmas on the Square
Step into a bygone era and immerse yourself in the enchanting charm of historic Christmas celebrations on the Square with a modern twist. The History Museum on the Square is delighted to unveil a nostalgic vignette that celebrates downtown Springfield’s cherished holiday traditions and introduces a new window display that will capture your heart. Welcome…
Service with a Smile: Route 66 Service Stations
Service with a Smile: Route 66 Service Stations celebrates the service stations and people who ran them along Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri. Service with a Smile! is the second of five annual exhibits featuring the history, culture, and impact of Route 66. The Route 66 Series will culminate with The Mother Road’s 100th birthday…
Beyond the Camouflage: Global Uniforms |Local Stories
Beyond The Camouflage: Global Uniforms | Local Stories This is a temporary exhibition in the History Museum on the Square’s Voices of History Gallery. This exhibition showcases uniforms from across the globe and throughout time to tell stories of veterans and service members from our community. The History Museum on the Square is honored to…
Community Cornerstones: Springfield’s Black Educators
Community Cornerstones: Springfield’s Black Educators showcases the rich history of Black American education in Springfield through the lens of the educators who were the cornerstones of the Black community before desegregation. Experience the enlightening story of Springfield’s Black educational history and its connection to a national conversation. Image: William Harrison “W.H.” McAdams, the first Principal…
Order Up! The Restaurants of Route 66
Order Up! The Restaurants of Route 66 celebrates some of the most popular places to grab a bite to eat in Greene County, Missouri, during the heyday of Route 66. A few of these restaurants are still open while others, such as the elegant dining at the Colonial Hotel, have long since passed into history….
Deeply Rooted: Stories of Missouri Farming
Deeply Rooted: Stories of Missouri Farming celebrates Missouri’s agricultural heritage and the people – past and present – who bring food to our tables. The exhibit covers a wide range of topics from prehistoric agriculture to modern roof-top gardens and the joys and heartbreak of the industry. A local component with illustrations, artifacts, multimedia, and…
Clara’s Christmas Dream: The Nutcracker – Windows on the Square
Windows on the Square – November 20, 2021 – January 15, 2022 As an outreach to the arts in 2021, the History Museum on the Square has chosen to promote Springfield Ballet’s December 17 – 20 production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in our Windows on the Square this year. Our theme Clara’s Christmas Dream: The…
Making Local Memories: Children’s Television in the Ozarks
The History Museum on the Square is excited to share a new temporary exhibit, Making Local Memories: Children’s Television in the Ozarks. We are excited to be able to extend this exhibit until the end of October. This exhibit is on display from Wednesday, July 21 to Sunday, October 31, 2021, in the Voices of…
For Kids Scavenger Hunt
To add even more excitement to your visit, we offer several fun and challenging scavenger hunts. These scavenger hunts create interactive experiences throughout the museum for all ages. See the four different options below. The scavenger hunt forms cam also be obtained at the museum.