Updated: 11/28/2013 
History Museum on the Square, Inc.
Springfield, Missouri
Description

History Museum on the Square is a private, not-for-profit organization that began in 1975 as a Bicentennial project. The space for the History Museum office was in historic Old City Hall and was provided by the City of Springfield, but we have now moved our offices in July 2013, near our new museum space on Springfield?s historic Park Central Square. Our new business office is located in the beautiful Holland Building in Suite 404 ( 4th floor.)

As a not-for-profit organization, we continue to raise the necessary program and operating funds through admissions, gift shop sales, special events, memberships, donations and grants. Our current exhibit location is part of our exciting museum expansion space at the museum's historic Park Central Square location, 155 Park Central Square. Our dedication to these beautiful buildings and their location on Springfield's beloved public square, has inspired our new name: History Museum on the Square. Visit us today!

Mission
Our vision:

CREATE a new interactive History Museum destination for the Springfield Community and its visitors.

LAUNCH innovative technology to explore, preserve and present our history and the foundations of Springfield and Greene County.

ENGAGE citizens and community guests by offering: - High tech hands on history for kids - Historical walking tours - Costumed reenactments - Additional local history experiences in the historic Fox Theater.

ATTRACT exciting traveling exhibits from across our nation.

DEVELOP an expanded flex space allowing us to uniquely share significant items from our archival and dimensional collections.

History

We began in 1975 as a Bicentennial project and located on the square in Springfield. Later, we moved to larger space at the Bentley House north of the Drury University campus. Decided to remove the image of an historic house museum the city of Springfield generously offered space in historic Old City Hall the city government offices had just vacated. Limited by our location and lack of adequate parking, we have now moved our offices in July 2013, near our NEW museum space on Springfield's historic Park Central Square. Our new business office is located in the Holland Building in Suite 404. Our future offices and permanent exhibit will be on the entire northwest quadrant of the square.

Artifact Collections

The archival collection contains over 50,000 items. Over 20,000 pieces of this collection include books and documents, books by area authors, historical reference books, local family papers, deeds and maps.

Research Collections
Over 20,000 pieces of this collection include books and documents, books by area authors, historical reference books, local family papers, deeds and maps.
Our photographic holdings are particularly strong, with more than 30,000 historical photographs preserving images of Springfield from its beginnings.
Our historical artifact collection contains over 100,000 significant pieces including antique china, household items, furniture and office equipment.
We also have a large costume and textile collection containing men's, women's and children's clothing and accessories from 1830 to the 1970's as well as many quilts, coverlets and linens.
Programs
We offer school tours for local area students to meet historical requirements of curriculum.
We offer tours for other groups as well.
We have a speakers bureau we call "trunk shows" for different topics to offer the community. The "trunks" are available for check-out by teachers to present to their social studies or history classes as well.
We also offer walking history tours and "step up" bus tours, as we are located in the heart of Springfield history!
Facilities

We currently have temporary exhibit space at 155 Park Central square and a newly acquired "Fox Theater" building for rental use until we begin renovating that area as well. We are currently renovating the "Barths" building for new exhibit space.

Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
Governance

There is a board of trustees that governs the History Museum on the Square, Inc.

Library

Access: General Public

Appointment required: True

Services

We can offer catered meals, if needed.

Volunteer

The Museum’s volunteers perform a wide-range of tasks, depending on their own special skills and interests. Their time commitment ranges from periodically giving a couple of hours to help with a special event to spending several hours each week at the Museum. Each volunteer brings something unique to History Museum on the Square, something that helps it grow and develop. We are looking for talented museum supporters who can volunteer as Event or Exhibit Hosts, Special Event Helpers, Clerical and Curator Assistants. Please contact our office for more info.

GUIDED TOURS:

Please schedule in advance. Call 417-831-1976 or 417-832-1200.

Historic Calaboose/Police Museum Tour $1 per person ( 5 person minimum): This 1891 jail showcases a wide variety of police materials, eras, officers, crimes and criminals.

History Museum Tour $1 per person in addition to regular museum admission.

Historic Walking Tour $1 per person ( 5 person minimum).

Historic Step-up Bus Tour Guides are available. (You provide the bus.) $5 person.

Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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