Updated: 5/29/2011 
Powers Museum
Carthage, Missouri
Description

Local history museum for Carthage, MO area featuring rotating exhibits on local annual themes and traveling exhibits on Missouri history. On and off site programming devoted to local history, musical performance, oral history projects, reference library and archives.

On site is a Museum Gift Shop featuring books, family tree charts, posters, Route 66 and Jefferson Highway souvenirs, and reproduction holiday items. The Powers Museum Shop stocks books, gift items, family tree charts and a variety of reproduction items such as holiday goods, greeting cards, old-fashioned postcards, Missouri educational items and much, much more. Most of our merchandise can not be found elsewhere in Carthage and much of it is purchased from specialty companies who only supply museums and historical sites.

The museum's small Local History Reference Library is open until 4:00 PM (on days the museum is open to the public -- appointment needed during winter) for self-directed consultation. Access to additional research resources housed elsewhere in the museum (such as archival collections and vertical files) requires an advance appointment for use. (Tip: Those seeking to do genealogical work should consult the resources at the Carthage Public Library or the Jasper County Records Center. The museum does not have birth/death/marriage records nor census or local newspapers.)

Small clubs are encouraged to meet at the museum in our library/meeting room and tables and chairs for groups up to 12–18 people can be provided. A program by the Museum Director or a gallery tour can be arranged as well and is encouraged. There is no fee for daytime use of the meeting room; however donations are appreciated. Please contact the museum for fee structure (when meals are served and/or meeting is held at night) and information on other restrictions. Reservations are required well in advance and no meetings are allowed from mid-December through early-March.

History

The Powers Museum is a gift from Marian Powers Winchester to the City of Carthage. At her death in 1981, Mrs. Winchester left a bequest "for the establishment and operation of a museum for the citizens of Carthage and the surrounding area." She requested the museum's name honor her parents Dr. Everett Powers (1869–1954) and Marian Wright Powers (1880–1969).

The museum has presented dozens of public exhibits since 1988. Currently the museum is involved in several special educational projects including one Teaching American History Grant, the Carthage Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and two on-going, multi-institutional research projects devoted to U.S. Highway 66 and the Jefferson Highway. Museum staff is available to talk to school and adult groups about these activities and the museum

Artifact Collections

Based on post civil war period to contemporary: decorative arts & fashion, local businesses, art, medical

Research Collections

Based on 18th & 19th century documents, photographs, business records, family correspondence.

Programs

Facilities
Governance

Municipal board

Library

Access: General Public

Appointment required: True

Services
Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Hours of Operation

Seasonal as given on our website: www.powersmuseum.com

Admission
Museum Type(s)
DISCLAIMER
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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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