Although the State Capital is
where many go to gain insight into Missouri’s past, the opportunity to view
history through another lens is available at the Museum of Missouri Military
History. And, it is one not to be missed. The importance of military cannot be
understated, and here, many crucial events are illustrated through a variety of
detailed displays. The Museum of Missouri Military History is dedicated to the
preservation, exhibition of Missouri's military history and to educate the
public about military history in Missouri via artifacts, photographs,
documents, and experiences. Current exhibits include artifacts from the
Revolutionary War to the present era.
Formerly, the museum was housed in one of the oldest
buildings from the original Algoa property dating back to the early 1930s. As
collections grew and storage became more difficult, the museum was moved to the
mechanical school where the National Guard Resiliency Center is also housed. Before December 2014, the building was a
grease-stained maintenance shop. It’s quite a transformation, since it opened in this new facility it has had more than 10,000
visitors.
Upon arriving at the museum, we saw the static displays
including the Sherman M4A3E8 tank, more commonly known as the EZ-8, and various
aircrafts including an F-4E Phantom II (previously displayed at Jefferson
Barracks in St. Louis). Arranged in chronological order, more than two
centuries of military history is on display.
A Vietnam-era Huey Helicopter is
housed there, which attests to the enormity of its role in military history.
The biggest mode of transportation on display is the C-130 Hercules. Cannons,
other tanks provide a diverse and exceptional perspective of Missouri’s
military.
The museum showcases artifacts that have been donated by
veterans and their families, including:
Womens Army Corps uniforms and memorabilia. I always find these displays interesting, not because I am a woman, because we have a friend that was a WAC and when the WAC disbanded, she did not want to be anything else and retired!
A complete Vietnam-era Chaplain’s Kit used by Brock Watson. Our friend, Carl Mills, will have found memories of a kit like this. As he was a Chaplain in the Army for most of his career.
Pictures, memorabilia and information about General John J Pershing, who was a native of Missouri. The saddest fact we learned about General Pershing's personal life, was when he was in Texas in 1913. He received a telegram telling him that his newly lacquered floors in his post housing had caught fire. His wife and three daughters died, only his son survived. Everyone around him believe that this personal tragedy created the hard driven man they knew.
The Museum of Missouri Military History is more than a local
attraction. It is a testament to the endeavors that our military has faced and
serves to provide a look at our military history for future generations to come. It is a MUST SEE attraction!
We were searching for the Madison Street Overlook and found
an open parking spot across from the Governor’s Mansion. According to all we
read, they do not do tours in the summer months. So, we had to be satisfied
with viewing it from the outside. In all of our history lessons, we have
learned that the site of the current Governor’s Mansion is the site of the 1st
Capitol Building in Jefferson City, which burned down in 1837.
We are not sure if we found the Madison St Overlook or not.
But, we did find a very small park like area that had a dedication marker about
the travels of Lewis and Clark. The area and marker were sponsored by the Jane
Randolph Jefferson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
My Aunt Barbara, keeps telling me that my lineage, supports me joining the DAR.
When we parked, we were lucky enough to find a museum that
we had been looking for ... The Cole County Historical Museum. The Cole County
Historical Society was formed as a not-for-profit organization July 24, 1941.
The dedication of the original Society members and those who quickly joined
made it possible to purchase the original Museum building in 1946, and to
complete the necessary renovation prior to the official opening at a reception
on May 17, 1948.
The museum and library are staffed primarily by volunteers
of the Cole Historical Society, so we were not sure if it was open. The Cole County Historical Society is dedicated to the
collection and preservation of records, documents, and artifacts directly
related to the history of Cole County. They are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Museum and the Upschulte House.
We had a private tour with the secretary of the society. She
was in the office the day we stopped. She closed the office, locked the door,
put a note on it to call her for access and took us on a tour! We walked the entire shotgun style house as she shared
stories of the artifacts in the museum. The house in the picture to the right, was moved to it's current location by the historical society, to complete their rear courtyard area.
On the ground floor, is the Goller Room has permanent
exhibits as well as our rotating display case, gift shop and office. This room
was under reorganization while we were there, it just had a new floor laid. The
room is being reorganized to pay tribute to Washington. A life-sized replica of the legend stands
guard in the museum's new "Revolutionary Era Exhibit 1763-1789." The
society has been the steward of several pieces aged more than two centuries;
however, they had been scattered in overcrowded display cases and hidden away
in storage. To remember her late husband, LeRoy "Bud" Wilbers, Wilson
and her son, provided this new permanent exhibit for the society. Mrs. Boyd
Caroll donated a Saber to the society in 1948. The saber was carried during the
war and presented to one of his loyal, young soldiers, whose family held the
piece for four generations. Wilbers rediscovered the sword in storage after
learning about its provenance while researching a 1639 pewter plate, also
donated by Mrs. Caroll and included in this exhibit. Also included in the
display are several pieces donated in 1958 by the descendants of President
Zachary Taylor. Two brass candlesticks carried by Washington were given to the
Taylor family by the first president.
The Double Parlor showcases some of our more elegant pieces
with historic furnishings from many old Cole County families - Houchin, Price,
Gundelfinger, McCarty, Major, Stephens, Hyde, Jaeger and others. The gold-leaf
pier mirror is one of a pair that was at each end of the Thomas Lawson Price
double parlor. It was made in France from architect's specifications, circa
1854. The lady in the parlor is playing a square grand piano. By the turn of the 19th Century, a handful of makers are recorded as having made some of the first Square Grand Pianos in America. For nearly 150 years, Square Grand Pianos were the piano of choice in both America and Europe, yet very few people today have ever seen one ... We have now!
In the DeLong Room we found one of the most outstanding
displays, part of the collection of Inaugural Ball gowns. Worn by former Missouri
"First Ladies", these gowns portray most vividly the fashion trends
through the years. The First Ladies portrait on the far right, intrigued me the most. The short hair cut on the First Lady looks like it would be from later in history, but she was the First Lady in 1917! Faint echoes of gala inaugural balls seem to linger in the
fragile laces, the rustling silks and shimmering satin. The earliest models,
bedecked with frills and furbelow, buttons, bustles, and bows, recall the
ornate elegance of the Victorian period. More modern gowns display simplicity
of line and style. This museum is the only private not-for-profit museum in the
country that has inaugural gowns of their First Ladies on display. In order to
protect the fabrics and do justice to the collection, they rotate these
displays.
Mr and Mrs Robert E Holloway Jr. have made a major contribution
to this museum collection. The china and crystal used by Governor Samuel Baker
while he was in office, 1925-1929. Mr. Holloway is a nephew of Nell Baker, wife
of the governor. The collection includes 8 place settings of Heinrich and
Company china, hand-decorated and painted with 23K gold over floral-etched design. In addition there are 8 place settings
of crystal by Rosenthal Glassware Company decorated in the same fashion as the Heinrich. Before becoming Governor,
Samuel Baker was an educator in the public schools of Jefferson City,
moving from High School Principal to the State School
Superintendent. His wife,Nell, was a native of Jefferson City and a stenographer for the Missouri
Supreme Court. Sam Baker was elected Governor on the Republican ticket and
according to the Missouri Ruralist was “common as an old shoe”.
The Price Bedroom was named for Thomas Lawson Price who
came from a distinguished family background. He brought his family to Jefferson
City from Virginia about 1831 and became a very successful and influential
citizen. He established the first mail stage line between Jefferson City and
St. Louis; he participated in building Missouri's railroads; he served in the
Missouri Legislature, in the national Congress, and as Jefferson City's first
Mayor and Lieutenant Governor. The home which he built on High Street was the
finest of its time; it is said to have cost $100,000 in 1842. It was
magnificently furnished and was the center of social and political activity in
Jefferson City. The building stood on the corner of High and Washington
Streets, the present site of the Missouri Supreme Court, and was demolished in
1904.
We enjoyed a late lunch at Lutz BBQ. Don't let the fact that the restaurant is housed inside a gas station! The restaurant was established in 2000. When it first started they were in a concession trailer in the Lowes parking lot. Burl Lutz, the owner, had previously worked construction and always enjoyed barbecuing on the side.
The menu has traditional pulled pork, brisket and pulled chicken. But I would have to say don’t discount the salads! But the hands down favorite, for our whole party was the homemade chips! Since they are made to order, you can select your flavor, from plain to BBQ, Ranch or Salt & Vinegar.
After all that delicious BBQ, it was back to the campers to
wait out the food coma!
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