Missouri Town 1855 facts for kids

The Missouri Town Living History Museum is a cool outdoor museum in Fleming Park near Lake Jacomo in Jackson County, Missouri. It's like stepping back in time to the 1800s! This museum covers about 30 acres and is run by Jackson County Parks + Rec. It first opened its doors in 1964.

What is Missouri Town?

The Missouri Town Living History Museum isn't a real town that people used to live in. Instead, it's a special place built to look exactly like a town from the mid-1800s in Missouri. To create this, more than 25 old buildings were carefully moved here from other parts of Missouri.

Stepping Back in Time

Most of these buildings were built between 1820 and 1860, which was before the American Civil War. When you visit, you'll see people dressed in clothes from that time. They are called interpreters and they show you what life was like back then. You can also see old-fashioned crops growing and even some rare farm animals!

Buildings You Can Explore

Imagine walking through a town where every building tells a story! Here are some of the cool buildings you can find at Missouri Town:

• Barns (from the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s)
• A Chicken Coop (from the 1830s or 1850s)
• A Church (built around 1844)
• A Hog Shed (from about 1838)
• A Law Office (from the 1880s)
• The Luttrell Cabin (from around 1860)
• The Marsh House (built between 1841 and 1855)
• The Riffie House (from about 1844)
• A Schoolhouse (from around 1860)
• Smokehouses (from the 1830s and 1850s)
• A Summer Kitchen (built around 1842 or 1843)
• A Tavern (from about 1822)
• The Webb House (from around 1848)
• The Withers House (built in 1842)
• The Woodard Workshop (from about 1837)

Some buildings, like the Mercantile and the Blacksmith Shop, were built more recently in the 1970s. But they were made using old materials to look just like buildings from the 1800s.

The Root Cellar: An Original Piece

There's one special building that has always been on this land: the Root Cellar. It was part of the farm that owned the property before Jackson County Parks + Rec bought it. It's the only original structure that didn't have to be moved!

Fun Activities and Workshops

Missouri Town offers many workshops and activities from spring through fall. These can include learning old crafts or seeing how things were done long ago. You can check their official website to find out what's happening each year, as the events change.

Friends of Missouri Town

The Friends of Missouri Town 1855 is a group of people who really love this museum. They are a non-profit organization that started shortly after the museum opened. These friends help the village in many ways. They share their talents by doing things like sewing, dyeing fabrics, making candles, pressing cider, and weaving. They help keep the history alive!

See also

• Historical reenactment
• Living history