Boone County Historical Society facts for kids
The Boone County Historical Society started in 1924. It is located in Columbia, Missouri, United States. This society and its museum work to collect, save, and show off old items and records. These items tell the stories of the people of Boone County, Missouri.
The museum campus has a history museum, an art gallery, a library for family history, and several old buildings. The museum also has many historical photos. These photos go back to the late 1800s. They show a Columbia that looks very different today! The historical society and museum are important places for art and culture in Columbia and nearby areas.
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Walters-Boone County Museum
The Walters-Boone County Museum was created in 1990. The Boone County Historical Society worked hard to raise money for it. Construction of the museum began in 1989. The museum has two main exhibit halls and other display areas. Together, they offer a large space for historical exhibits.
The Montminy Gallery
The Montminy Art Gallery is a big space that shows art from local and state artists. It was built in 1993. This happened after the death of Elizabeth "Tracy" Montminy. She was a well-known artist and professor at the University of Missouri. The gallery often changes its art displays every few months. You can see paintings, photographs, and sculptures there.
A special item at the society is the 125-year-old Chickering grand piano of pianist John W. Blind Boone. This piano is now a main display in the Montminy Art Gallery.
Boone County History & Culture Center
In 1988, a local businessman named Raul Walters helped fund a new museum building. He did this to honor his parents. Because of his help, the museum was named The Walters Boone County Historical Museum & Visitors Center. Later, in 1993, artist Tracy Montminy left a gift that helped add more space. This new space became the Montminy Art Gallery.
Around 2009, the organization started calling itself the Boone County Historical Museum & Galleries. This name helped show that it had both history galleries and the art gallery. In 2016, the leaders decided to make a big change. They wanted to show that the organization was more than just a history museum. It was also a center for culture and arts.
So, the main building and its other places were renamed. This new name is The Boone County History & Culture Center. It includes the Montminy Gallery, The Village at Boone Junction, the Maplewood House, and the Riverhorse Pavilion. Since 1993, the center has hosted many art shows, music concerts, and other cultural events.
Historic houses and buildings
The Boone County History & Culture Center campus has several old houses and buildings. These buildings were moved from their original spots to create a historic village.
Historic Maplewood House
The Maplewood House was built in 1877. It was built by Slater Ensor Lenoir and Margaret Bradform Lenior. They came from early families in Boone County. The house and farm were named Maplewood because they were in a group of large sugar maple trees. This house has been standing for over 139 years!
The house was built with bricks made right there. It shows the style of Italianate architecture. The house was first shaped like a "T." It was changed in 1891. Some changes included closing in sleeping porches and adding a new section. The house has cool features like corbels (fancy brackets), arched windows, and a front balcony.
The original farm had 427 acres. It included a pond, a utility house, and two barns. One animal barn was later rebuilt into a summer theater. This theater is called the Maplewood Barn Theater. It burned down in 2010 but was rebuilt and opened again in 2012.
The City of Columbia bought 60 acres of the farmland, including the Maplewood house, in 1970. In November 1970, the park was officially opened. It was named the Frank G. Nifong Memorial Park. Today, it is called Historic Nifong Park. This name honors the work done to save history by the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the Boone County Historical Society.
Village of Boone Junction
The Village of Boone Junction is a collection of old buildings. They were all moved here from other places.
- Gordon-Collins Log Cabin – David Gordon, a settler from Kentucky, built this log cabin in 1822. It was his family's temporary home while they built a bigger house. Later, it was used by enslaved people and hired workers. Today, visitors can see tools that were common long ago. These include looms, spinning wheels, and old cookware. The cabin was moved from what is now Stephens Lake Park.
- McQuitty House – Luther McQuitty, an African American builder, built this home in 1910. It is special because of its "Shotgun" style of architecture. This style is rare to find today. It was moved from its original spot in Columbia.
- Easley Store - This old store was moved from Easley, Missouri.
Collections
The museum has many interesting collections that tell stories about Boone County's past. Some of these include:
- Civil War In Missouri
- The Columbia Daily Tribune Archives 1907-2015 (old newspaper records)
- Boone County Fire Protection District Dedication Exhibit
- Concerned Student 1950 Protest and Hunger Strike (2015-16 University of Missouri protests) by Jon Luvelli
- 150 Years of Boone County Education
- The Sporting Life: Hunting, Fishing & Conservation in Boone County
- The Civil War Letters of Joseph Cooper Babb by Joseph Babb
- Westhoff Photo Collection by Joe Douglass, Henry Holborn, and Wesley Blackmore
- Postcards from the St. Louis World's Fair & Exposition
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