Past Exhibits

Museum Hours
It’s Friday 10:19 am — We’re open
Monday – Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Curious about our past exhibits or want to relive a display you visited previously? View an archive of former temporary displays and events here.

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…

Bicentennial Exhibit: Struggle for Statehood

This exhibit traces Missouri’s history towards American statehood and explores why its application for admission sparked a national crisis. Laws and feelings about the enslavement of people of color were a large part of the issue.

Ozarks Coca-Cola Bottling Company: From Our Family to Yours

This exhibit celebrates Ozarks Coca-Cola Bottling Company’s rich history.

Once Upon a Christmas Past

Since 2013, History Museum on the Square has created magical window displays for our community to enjoy. For decades, visiting the amazing décor designed by beloved department stores on Springfield’s Square was a family tradition for visitors of all ages and the History Museum on the Square is keeping this tradition alive.