Nodaway County Historical Society Museum facts for kids
The Nodaway County Historical Society Museum is a cool place in Maryville, Missouri. It tells the story of Nodaway County in Missouri, United States. The museum is full of interesting items that show what life was like long ago.
You can find special things from famous people who lived in Nodaway County. These include items from Dale Carnegie, who wrote famous books, and Homer Croy, a well-known author. There are also things from actors like Smiley Burnette and Lynne Overman. You might even see items from Sarah Caldwell, a famous opera director, and Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones, a legendary horse trainer.
The museum has one of the largest collections of horse racing items. This is because of trainer Jimmy Jones, who worked with horses from Calumet Farm. You can learn about famous horses like Citation (horse), who won the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. This is a huge achievement in horse racing!
In 1977, the museum got the Caleb Burns House. This old house is now part of the museum, helping to show how people lived in the past.
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Meet the Stars: Nodaway County's Hall of Fame
Each year, the museum honors people with important connections to Nodaway County. This special group is called the "Stairway of the Stars." Many of these people have their own items displayed in the museum. Here are some of the amazing individuals honored:
Famous Faces from Movies and Music
- Lynne Overman: He was a movie actor.
- Smiley Burnette: Another movie actor, known for his roles in Western films.
- Alma Nash: She was a performer in the famous 1923 Ziegfeld Follies. She later came back to Maryville to teach music.
- Sarah Caldwell: She made history as the first female director of the Metropolitan Opera.
Inventors and Smart Thinkers
- Elizabeth E. Stewart Howell: She was an inventor. Her patent from 1891 was important for the Lazy Susan. A Lazy Susan is a spinning tray often used on tables.
- Hollis Newcomb White: He held many patents related to hydraulics. Hydraulics is about using liquids to create power.
- Edwin Harris Colbert: He was a top expert on ancient animals. He worked as a curator at the American Museum of Natural History for 40 years.
Sports Legends and Animal Experts
- Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones: He was a famous horse trainer for Calumet Farms. He trained two horses that won the Kentucky Derby, a very famous horse race.
- Lester Swaney: He managed Faustiana Farms for 30 years. He trained or owned several champion horses.
- Frank Felton: He was an international expert on the Hereford breed of cattle.
- Bill Tobin: He was a manager and general manager for pro football teams. He worked for the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.
- Vince Tobin: He was a coach for the Arizona Cardinals football team.
- Emma Holt Prather: She was the first woman to breed a Kentucky Derby winner. Her horse, Elwood, won at Faustiana Farm.
- Leo Baumli: He was a mule farmer. One of his mules, named Ruth, was even on the TV show Gunsmoke!
Community Builders and Leaders
- Joseph W. Cornelison: He was a high-ranking U.S. representative. He was there when the Panama Canal was transferred to Panama in 1999.
- Garvin Williams: He had a business selling bluegrass lawn seed. He also started other businesses in Maryville, like KNIM radio.
- Uel W. Lamkin: He was the president of Northwest Missouri State University.
