Museums in Mid-Missouri

Missouri Capitol and State Museum
201 W. Capitol Ave.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-751-2854

Admission: Free

Description: The Missouri State Museum has two galleries on the main floor of the Capitol. The displays cover Missouri’s history and natural resources. New exhibits focus on the Civil War in Missouri. Free tours of the Capitol are available.

Museum of Art & Archaeology
University of Missouri
1 Pickard Hall
Columbia, MO
573-882-3591 website

Admission: Free

Description: The mission of the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri-Columbia is to provide access to original works of art and artifacts through the development of the permanent collection and to preserve and maintain all objects in its care. The Museum uses its resources to make its collection physically available to its constituents through public display or by special arrangement. The Museum also uses its resources to make its collection intellectually accessible by studying and researching its holdings and making the results available to its audiences. The art and artifacts the Museum collects and displays must be historically and culturally significant and relevant to the audiences it serves. A "relevant" object is understood to be one that enhances teaching, is suitable and of sufficient interest for research by faculty, students, and other scholars, and is of cultural significance to the broader community.

Museum of Anthropology
University of Missouri
100 Swallow Hall
Columbia, MO
573-882-3573 website

Admission: Free

Description: What is the Museum of Anthropology? A window on Native American lifeways; Tantalizing views of Missourians from thousands of years ago; Slices of Missouri's pioneer and rural history; Collections documenting cultures from across the globe; The home of the world's most comprehensive archery collection; The state of Missouri's archaeological curation facility; and so much more....

Auto World Museum
200 Peacock Drive
Fulton, MO. 65251
573-642-2080 website

Admission: Call

Description: "An expedition through history" - the all new Auto World Museum features Mr. William E. Backer’s vintage automobile Collection and reflects his and his daughter, Vicki Backer McDaniel’s vision. Bill spent his life collecting the amazing cars he loves. He has now entrusted this remarkable collection to our foundation to insure these automotive treasures are preserved and available for all to see.

Crane's Country Store Museum
10675 Old Highway 40
Williamsburg, MO 63388
573-254-3311

Call for hours and admission price

Description: What seems like an old General Store untouched by time is a real working store. You can enjoy a sandwich, a snack and a cold bottled soda as you squeeze through the aisles of this unique store. Many antiques and memorabilia items are on display.

Winston Churchill Memorial & Library
Westminster College
501 Westminster Avenue
Fulton, Missouri 65251
573-592-5369 website

Admission: Adults $6.00 Youth (12-18) $4.00 Children (6-11) $3.00 Child 5-and-under free

Open Daily 10:00AM - 4:30PM (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day)

Description: The Memorial is located on the college campus in Fulton, Missouri, the site of Churchill's famous "Iron Curtain" speech. The museum tells the story of a hero who led the free world's fight for freedom, from his privileged youth as the son of a British aristocrat to the darkest days of war. This museum provides a chronicle of the life and times of one of the world's most memorable political leaders and serves as a venue for special artistic and historical exhibits, as well as a variety of social and cultural events.

Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art
411 Central Methodist Square
Fayette, MO
1-877-CMU-1854 website

Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday

Description: The Ashby Collection of oil paintings, lithographs, drawings, and acrylics, mainly represents the work of American Regionalist artists. Although the Ashby Collection is the principal focus of the gallery, special exhibits are scheduled throughout the year.

Veterinary Museum
2500 Country Club Drive
Jefferson City, MO
573-636-8612

Admission: Free
Hours: Wed.-Fri. 12-4 pm (Call to verify)

Description: This is a small museum that showcases veterinary instruments, such as balling guns, emasculators and trocars for large animals, trunks filled with horse dental tools, bleeding instruments, horse pills and lots of huge syringes. There are three operating tables for small animals. There are specimens in glass jars, like Siamese piglets and an eight-legged piglet, hairballs from pigs and other farm animals, a colossal kidney stone found in a horse and interesting objects found in animals.