Exhibits

Below is some information on some of the exhibits inside the Missouri State Museum.

Galleries

History Hall

In 1919, the General Assembly designated this exhibit gallery as the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. Now referred to as the “History Hall,” it houses exhibits about Missouri’s cultural history. The museum’s current exhibits in the History Hall include:

“Missouri Bicentennial Timeline”

Visitors can follow a river of time that flows through thousands of years of Missouri history. Illustrated by St. Louis artist Dan Zettwoch and stretching 80 feet, the timeline highlights the triumphs and tragedies of Missouri history. Missouri’s state symbols and fun references to Missouri’s culture and folklore are scattered along the timeline. Visit to see what you find hidden in the illustrations.

“Missouri Trailblazers”

Currently the largest exhibit in the museum, "Missouri Trailblazers" highlights the people, places and organizations that blazed a trail in leadership, innovation and creativity. Explore the exhibit to find Missourians who made a difference, even if you’ve never heard of them before. Connect with these trailblazers through artifacts, interpretive panels and games. Artifacts and panels in this exhibit will rotate every few months, so keep coming back to learn more!

English	Español
Introduction: Missouri TrailblazersPDF Document	Introducción: Pioneros de MissouriPDF Document
Missouri: Prelude First Trails and First PeoplePDF Document St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve and Two EmpiresPDF Document Mighty Purchase, Long TrekPDF Document Crisis and CompromisePDF Document Second Crisis, Final CompromisePDF Document	Missouri: El preludio Primeros senderos y Pueblos primerosPDF Document Saint Louis, Sainte Genevieve y dos imperiosPDF Document Una compra poder y una larga caminataPDF Document Crisis y compromisoPDF Document Una segunda crisis y un compromiso finalPDF Document
Chapter 1: Champions of ChangePDF Document General Enoch Crowder: General, Ambassador, LawyerPDF Document Frankie Muse Freeman: Defender of Human RightsPDF Document	Capítulo 1: Campeones del cambioPDF Document General Enoch Crowder: General, embajador, abogadoPDF Document Frankie Muse Freeman: Defensora de los derechos humanosPDF Document
Chapter 2: Innovative GeniusesPDF Document Missouri Botanical Garden: National LandmarkPDF Document John Sappington: Frontier DoctorPDF Document	Capítulo 2: Genios innovadoresPDF Document Jardín botánico de Missouri: Monumento nacionalPDF Document John Sappington: Médico de la fronteraPDF Document
Chapter 3: Cultivators of CreativityPDF Document Chuck Berry: Pioneer of Rock 'n' RollPDF Document Rose O'Neill: Illustrious IllustratorPDF Document	Capítulo 3: Cultivadores de la creatividadPDF Document Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry: Pionero del Rock ‘n’ RollPDF Document Rose O’Neill: Ilustre ilustradoraPDF Document
EpiloguePDF Document	EpílogoPDF Document

“Memory in Cloth”

The Missouri State Museum has a collection of more than 400 military flags and political banners dating from the 1830s to today. “Memory in Cloth” highlights this collection and its conservation. It also asks visitors to consider the history of the flags and how our understanding of their meaning has changed over time. The flags and banners highlighted in this exhibit will rotate every six months, so come back often to see what is on display. 

Missouri Veterans Gallery

Opened in 2007, this gallery honors Missouri's veterans. Rotating artifacts feature conflicts from the Seminole War (1835-1842) to Operation Enduring Freedom.

Resources Hall

First designated the Resources Museum in 1921, this gallery was joined with the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in 1923 to form the Missouri State Museum. This gallery displays Missouri's natural resources on the south wall, human resources on the north wall, and the story of how the two have interacted in the center.

Foundations Gallery

This gallery, opened in 2009, features exhibits on Missouri's state government and the buildings that have served as Missouri's Capitol. Artifacts are periodically rotated.

Jefferson Landing State Historic Site and Elizabeth Rozier Gallery

Online Exhibits

"Slavery's Echoes"

Traveling Exhibits

The museum maintains a growing number of traveling exhibits that can be borrowed by schools, museums, libraries and other organizations. Our exhibits explore Missouri’s rich natural and cultural history. We are creating new exhibits and updating old exhibits regularly. To learn more about the traveling exhibits currently on offer, click here.

Artifact Collections

The Missouri State Museum is actively collecting artifacts related to Missouri's cultural and natural history for loan and donation. Please contact the museum at 573-751-2854 or collections.statemuseum@dnr.mo.gov for more information.