History Museum on the Square

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History Museum on the Square It is located on historic Route 66 in downtown Springfield, MO. We strengthen our community’s future by learning about our past and our culture.
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History Museum on the Square strengthens our future by sharing our past, offering engaging exhibits, interactive displays, and unique events to celebrate local history and inspire learning. History Museum on the Square is a nonprofit museum located right on historic Route 66 in Springfield, MO. Our six permanent galleries tell the stories of significant events in Springfield and create distinct and intentional dialogues about objects, individuals, and history– dialogues that foster examinations of unique aspects of Springfield, Greene County and its people. A rich and vast collection of artifacts, photographs, and stories of the crossroads are combined using innovative technologies. Take a ride in our Trolley Time Machine, see if you are as good a shot as Wild Bill Hickok in a recreation of the first Wild West Shootout, explore what Springfield was like during the Civil War, and travel down the Mother Road to the place where Route 66 got its name. Walking tours of Springfield, special programs and events are offered throughout the year and can be found on our website. Hours:
Monday-Tuesday: Closed to the Public
Wednesday - Saturday 10 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 1-5 pm

Prices:
Adult: $16.00
Senior/Military/Student: $13.00
Child (age 4-12): $10.00
Children 3 & under: Free

Mission:

The History Museum on the Square is committed to building and preserving an extensive collection of historical documents and artifacts, as we share stories of the crossroads to engage, educate, and inspire our diverse audience. Executive Director: Sean FitzGibbons
Business Manager: Charlotte McCoy
Special Event & Visitor Experience Manager: Abby Foster
Education Manager: Whitney Mosley
Civics Education Coordinator - Jill Hodge
CivicS Education Coordinator - Al Thompson
Collections & Exhibits Manager: Sarah Dotson
First Impression Coordinator: Alyssa Cartier
Executive Director Emeritus: John Sellars

https://linktr.ee/historymuseumonthesquare

Built in 1891, the Springfield Calaboose was used as a jailhouse until the 1940s. It is known as the oldest city-owned s...
10/15/2026

Built in 1891, the Springfield Calaboose was used as a jailhouse until the 1940s. It is known as the oldest city-owned structure in the city. The jailhouse was used mostly for municipal code violations, like thieves, traffic violators, and the intoxicated; however, there were a number of escapes that occurred throughout the use of the building.

Previously positioned between the old fire and police stations, the Calaboose now conversely stands among the newer Downtown—serving as a police museum for the city full of relics, photos, and endless stories.

🎟 Learn about the Calaboose's spookier side during one of our Haunted History Tours this October! Purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/HMSHauntedHistory

📷 Pictured Below: A black and white photograph of the back of the City Jail, also known as the Calaboose, facing south on McDaniel St. near Campbell Ave. (ca. 1980).

📝 Text co-written by History Museum on the Square Intern, Ada Montgomery, and the HMS Team.
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🎭 The Historic Fox Theatre has been one of the premier theaters in Springfield for over a century but has gone through m...
10/09/2026

🎭 The Historic Fox Theatre has been one of the premier theaters in Springfield for over a century but has gone through many changes in that time. After the fire on the square in 1913, land was bought by Electric Theatre, a chain out of Kansas City, to build what was called the “nicest theater in South Missouri.” A well-celebrated local artist, Oliver J. Corbett, painted a mural inside the lobby while Kansas City interior designers created the rest. It dazzled guests with many Vaudeville acts and silent movies during its time.

🎥 In 1930, the Electric Theatre was bought by Paramount, but they only owned it for four years before selling it to the Fox Theatre chain, where it ran several of the biggest Disney and mainstream movies of the day. Unfortunately, in 1947, two fires damaged the theater and nearly destroyed most of the building.

🦊 The Fox Theatre was used by Abundant Life Church from 1982 to 2014. After that, the History Museum on the Square took ownership of the building and began to focus efforts on utilizing and preserving the theater that holds so many memories and such a rich history.

📷 Pictured Below: Two photos of the Electric Theater in the Northeast corner of Park Central Square (ca. 1930s and 1940s); a black-and-white negative of the interior of the Electric Theater after a fire gutted the building, taken by Betty Love (1949).

📝 Text co-written by History Museum on the Square Intern, Ada Montgomery, and the HMS Team.

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History Museum on the Square is hiring for a new position within the museum. Deputy Director & Chief of Staff to serve ...
10/08/2026

History Museum on the Square is hiring for a new position within the museum. Deputy Director & Chief of Staff to serve as the Executive
Director’s second-in-command and senior internal leadership partner.
Check the website under Join Us/Careers for detailed information. https://historymuseumonthesquare.org/careers/

10/08/2026

Here’s an exploration of intriguing headlines and stories from this week, but with a twist – they’re from a century ago, meticulously preserved by the History Museum on the Square and Sharing Stories of the Crossroads.

Wallace White, a runaway slave and Union soldier, helped fight in some of the most important battles in the Civil War. B...
09/24/2026

Wallace White, a runaway slave and Union soldier, helped fight in some of the most important battles in the Civil War.

Born in 1844 in Kentucky, Wallace was soon separated from his family and sold to a farmer by the name of John White. One day during the Civil War, as Wallace was working in the cotton fields, soldiers from the 6th Missouri Cavalry rode by and encouraged him to join them. After much encouragement, White left with the group, riding a mule and wearing only his working clothes and the padlock from his shackles.

White spent the remaining duration of the war in unofficial service for the Union. He fought in many battles, including the Battle of Pea Ridge and the Siege at Vicksburg. After the war, he settled in Greene County, near Cave Springs, where he farmed and raised a family with his wife Annie Looney. Though he did not receive a pension because he was not an official member of the Union, he continued to attend reunions of the 6th Missouri Cavalry.

Wallace White died on September 26, 1931, at the age of 87. This Saturday marks the 95th anniversary of his death.

📸 Pictured below: A photo of Wallace White and his wife Annie on their farm, taken on October 27, 1926.

📝 Text co-written by History Museum on the Square Intern, Ada Montgomery, and the HMS Team.

We strive to accurately identify and credit photographers, creators, and copyright holders whenever possible. If you have additional information about this image, we'd love to hear from you.
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The Route 66 Series temporary exhibit will end Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. We have traveled through time over the last 5 yea...
09/19/2026

The Route 66 Series temporary exhibit will end Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. We have traveled through time over the last 5 years and shared many of our local stories along Route 66. Thank you to our series sponsors, O'Reilly Auto Parts and - Ozarks Studies Institute.

Happy family weekend, Bears! If you're looking for something fun to do off campus this weekend, stop by the History Muse...
09/18/2026

Happy family weekend, Bears! If you're looking for something fun to do off campus this weekend, stop by the History Museum on the Square for a visit.

All students who present a valid university ID receive discounted admission! 🐻

📸 Pictured below: A westward-facing, black and white aerial negative of the Southwest Missouri Teacher's College, now known as Missouri State University, taken by Betty Love. (ca. 1950).
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📍Route 66 is well known around the Springfield area, but many people don’t fully realize the impact that it has on our c...
09/17/2026

📍Route 66 is well known around the Springfield area, but many people don’t fully realize the impact that it has on our city. One of the main sources of tourism here in Springfield is Route 66 travelers—tourism in turn impacted the growth of our city’s population and economic growth. More tourists meant more business coming through the city and led to a major boost in local commerce, population size, and economic development.

🗺️The presence of Route 66 in Springfield created an identity of an iconic, historic roadside culture that still permeates through the city—from classic car enthusiasts and festivals to the Giraffe Stone architecture that can call Springfield home.

Pictured Below: A view of St. Louis St. near Jefferson Ave.; businesses featured in this photo include Hotel Springfield, Black's Cafe, Happy & Co. Millinery, H.L. Hoover Music Co., Hurlburt's, and the Colonial Hotel (ca. 1927).

📝 Text co-written by History Museum on the Square Intern, Ada Montgomery, and the HMS Team.

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Greetings from Route 66! 👋🌴Historic postcards, produced from the 1960s to 2000s, are among the many artifacts featured i...
09/10/2026

Greetings from Route 66! 👋🌴

Historic postcards, produced from the 1960s to 2000s, are among the many artifacts featured in our Miles of Memories exhibit.

Miles of Memories: Celebrating Route 66’s Centennial is an in-depth look at the history, culture, and impact of Route 66. This showcase explores the many different aspects of a road trip down the Mother Road, from the iconic diners and motels to the unique roadside attractions.

The finale of our four-year-long exhibition series is sponsored by O’Reilly Automotive and the Ozark Studies Institute, supporting our celebration of Route 66 with historic pictures and memorabilia—all diving into the history of Route 66 unique to the Ozarks.

Visit us before Sunday, September 20th, and discover the lasting impact and legacy of America’s Highway!

📝 Text co-written by History Museum on the Square Intern, Ada Montgomery, and the HMS Team.

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Address

154 Park Central Square
Springfield, MO
65806

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(417) 831-1976

Website

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