Missouri History Museum

Missouri History Museum. The Missouri History Museum is located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, and is operated by the Missouri Historical Society, which was founded in 1866 by Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod minister C. Waldo Bronson and William Greenleaf Eliot. The museum showcases the history of St. Louis and the State of Missouri, with a collection of over 175,000 artifacts and 40,000 square feet of exhibition space, including works by Thomas Hart Benton and George Caleb Bingham. The museum's collections and exhibitions have been recognized by the American Alliance of Museums and the National Endowment for the Arts, with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Park Service.

● History

The Missouri History Museum was established in 1915 as the Jefferson Memorial and was later renamed in 2002. The museum's history is closely tied to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as the 1904 World's Fair, which was held in Forest Park and featured exhibits on anthropology, geology, and zoology, with participation from Harvard University, University of Chicago, and Smithsonian Institution. The museum's founders, including David R. Francis and William H. Thompson, were instrumental in preserving the history of Missouri and the American West, with contributions from Buffalo Bill Cody and Theodore Roosevelt. The museum has also been supported by the Missouri General Assembly and the City of St. Louis, with partnerships with the St. Louis Art Museum and the Saint Louis Zoo.

● Collections

The Missouri History Museum has an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits, including the Louisiana Purchase treaty, a Conestoga wagon used by Pioneer-era settlers, and a collection of Native American artifacts, such as those from the Osage Nation and the Missouri Tribe. The museum's collections also include works by Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell, as well as artifacts from the American Civil War, including a Uniform of the Union Army worn by Ulysses S. Grant and a Battle flag of the Confederate States of America from the Battle of Gettysburg. The museum's collections have been recognized by the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Missouri Humanities Council.

● Exhibitions

The Missouri History Museum features a variety of exhibitions, including the 1904 World's Fair exhibit, which showcases artifacts and memorabilia from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, with contributions from the Field Museum of Natural History and the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum also features exhibits on the history of St. Louis, including the Gateway Arch and the City Museum, as well as exhibits on the American West, including the California Gold Rush and the Oregon Trail, with participation from the Autry Museum of the American West and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The museum's exhibitions have been recognized by the American Museum Association and the International Council of Museums, with support from the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

● Education_and_Research

The Missouri History Museum offers a variety of educational programs and research opportunities, including the Missouri Historical Society's research library, which features a collection of over 500,000 books, manuscripts, and photographs, with contributions from the University of Missouri and the Washington University in St. Louis. The museum also offers educational programs for K-12 students, including field trips and outreach programs, with partnerships with the St. Louis Public Schools and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The museum's research opportunities have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Missouri Humanities Council, with support from the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians.

● Building_and_Grounds

The Missouri History Museum is located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, and features a Beaux-Arts style building designed by Isaac Taylor, with contributions from the Oliver Architecture firm and the McKim, Mead & White architecture firm. The museum's building and grounds have been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and the National Park Service, with support from the City of St. Louis and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The museum is also surrounded by the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Muny, with partnerships with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis.