Meet the team striving to create a vibrant Missouri where the humanities are accessible to all.
Over 50 years dedicated to helping Missourians explore the people, places, and ideas that shape our society.
The study of how people connect to the human experience through history, culture, and traditions.
A legacy of leadership and grantmaking. Read the magazine!
In-person community or statewide events, festivals, and symposiums.
Major grants, mini grants, and grant guidelines.
Programs, workshops, and anthologies promoting veteran stories.
Small Town Showcase and workshops for communities.
Center for the Book and reading programs.
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Join us as we consider the role of civility in democracy and ask ourselves: What is the role of citizenry in our “American Experiment,” past, present, and future?
Missouri Humanities strives to implement and support initiatives that highlight Native stories and voices.
A series of six exhibitions and presentations, curated and implemented by Dr. Billie Follensbee, Museum Studies Program Coordinator, exploring the history and culture of the Ozarks October 2024-September 2025 at the Park Central Library Branch, Springfield, MO. This exhibition series is supported by a Missouri Humanities Council Major Grant. This exhibition and presentation series features […]
Missouri Humanities is excited to host a special tour of Voices & Votes: Democracy in America, an exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution. Developed as part of the Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program, this exhibit is designed especially for small cultural organizations and rural audiences that lack regular access to traveling exhibitions due to space […]
Join historian and author Michelle Brooks for a look at the legacy of the 62nd U.S. Colored Troops. These soldiers, some from Livingston County, not only fought in the Civil War but also returned home to build their communities, becoming teachers, preachers, and political leaders. Their efforts led to the founding of Lincoln University, shaping […]
Movies Made in Missouri While it’s not Hollywood, there have been nearly one hundred movies made in Missouri from the earliest times in the industry to the present day. The first movies filmed in Missouri featured Tom Mix and were shot at Flemington in Polk County—why there? Another early movie was “The Crisis” (about the […]
Final chance to catch this unique exhibit! Montminy Gallery Celebrates 30 Years of Jazz! "We Always Swing® Jazz Series – 30 Year Celebration" Closing Reception: May 3, 2025 3:00–5:00 PM Montminy Gallery, Boone County History & Culture Center Light refreshments will be served. Celebrate three decades of jazz history, featuring an incredible collection of autographed […]
Celebrating the Kentucky Derby; while fundraising to save a downtown building.
Architect Gunny Harboe will provide insight into preserving one of St. Louis's architectural treasures - The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park - a Frank Lloyd Wright "Usonian" design located in Kirkwood. Learn how a Conservation Management Plan is guiding the restoration of its distinctive roof and will inform future preservation. This presentation will […]
When German immigrant Ludwig Jacoby rode his horse into St. Louis in 1841, he couldn’t have possibly known the chaos that would ensue. The Methodist minister’s pursuit of building a church was met with challenges so extreme it’s amazing he had the will to push forward: race riots, violence, and hatred came from varying directions. […]
Boone Youth Explorers Free Family Event - Wood You Believe, Tales and Treasures of Trees Date: May 10, 2025 Time: 10:00-12:00 Step into the fascinating world of wood! Our special guest, a talented storyteller, will captivate young audiences with tales about the mighty trees of Missouri and their incredible journey from forest to everyday life. […]
Join the NCHS museum for an exhibit opening and talk with Elyssa Ford, PHD, about voting rights in Nodaway County. This event is part of the Smithsonian Museum on MainStreet exhibit, hosted by the Rose Theater & sponsored by Missouri Humanities. Questions? Call 660-582-8176 or Email nodawaycountyhistoricalsociety@embarqmail.com
Bring the whole family to Free Days at the Museum. Occurring on every second Sunday of the month, Free Days provide greater access to The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures’ vast and awe-inspiring collections for visitors near and far. All attendees can explore the Museum at no charge.
Kathleen Seale, coordinator of the SHSMO’s Rolla and Springfield Research Centers digs into a unique SHSMO collection that details a 1950s film technology developed by two Rolla theatre owners Rowe Carney and Tom Smith. Their invention of the rotoscope used a special single camera for filming and a cinema system to project movies in a […]
“Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America,” 5/13 Kinder Institute Distinguished Lecture with NPR’s Steve Inskeep STEVE INSKEEP: 2025 KINDER INSTITUTE DISTINGUISHED LECTURE DIFFER WE MUST: HOW LINCOLN SUCCEEDED IN A DIVIDED AMERICA Steve Inskeep is a host of NPR’s Morning Edition as well as its morning news podcast Up First. Since joining Morning Edition in 2004, […]
We do not need more good neighbors. Instead, we need engaged neighbors! By making this change, and moving against the tide of our culture of isolation and loneliness– you will see the difference it makes in your life, neighborhood and community. This introduction to the engaged neighbor principles is perfect for anyone wanting to be […]
The Field House Museum is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kristine Smith for an engaging discussion on Buster Brown, the 1904 World’s Fair, and early consumer culture. Discover how Buster Brown—the mischievous comic strip character turned advertising icon—helped put the St. Louis-based Brown Shoe Company (now Caleres) on the map, becoming a beloved symbol of American […]
At the St. Louis World’s Fair, cartoon celebrity Buster Brown became the spokesman for over 100 companies, including the Brown Shoe Company. Buster Brown’s transition from the funny pages to advertising trademarks gives insights into fundamental shifts in American consumer culture during its developmental years. Mostly remembered today as a children’s shoe logo, this presentation […]
At 5:41 p.m. on May 22, 2011, the deadliest tornado to strike the United States in 60 years tore through Joplin, Missouri. By the time it completed its devastating path, one-third of the community lay in ruins, 161 lives were lost, and survivors were left with stories they would carry forever. 5:41: Stories from the […]
Join the USAF Chamber Winds for a family-friendly evening of exceptional music in an intimate concert setting. This unique performance features a wide variety of chamber ensembles—from solo musicians and duos to trios and quartets—showcasing the remarkable versatility and artistry of the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America. Audiences of all ages will enjoy […]
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 1:00 pm, the Greater Kansas City Black History Study Group will host its monthly program and meeting. This month, we delve into the life, work, and legacy of a lesser-known Kansas City historical figure, C.H.J. Taylor. Although C.H.J. Taylor was an influential journalist and political organizer during the 1890s, […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
Join artist and illustrator MacKenzie Fulmer for the next Make and Sip at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures! In this workshop, participants will create still life artworks inspired by personal objects and histories. Through observational drawing and painting techniques utilized by Fulmer in her Local Artists Go Miniature work, attendees will explore the […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
Everyone Welcome! Native American Art Vendors Native Food – Raffles Admission is FREE* *Thanks to the generous support of Missouri Humanities. SATURDAY Noon-2:00: Gourd Dancing 2:30: Grand Entry 2:45-5:00: Inter-tribal 5:00-5:45: Dinner Break 5:45-6:45: Gourd Dancing 7:00: Grand Entry 7:15-10:00: Inter-tribal SUNDAY Noon-2:00: Gourd Dancing 2:30: Grand Entry 2:45-5:00: Inter-tribal HEAD STAFF Head Man Dancer: […]
Historian Amy Fluker chronicles the brief but interesting history of a rare veterans society that opened membership to both ex-Confederate and Union veterans in Missouri, explores what "reconciliation" after the Civil War meant to Missourians in the late 19th century. and how they hoped to achieve it. The program is free, but reservations are required. […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
With the Louisiana Purchase and westward expansion in 1804, Americans would flood the new frontier by using early trails that the Buffalo and Osage Nation had used for years. By the time Missouri became a State in 1821, the residents were clamoring for surveyors to lay out better roadways for stagecoaches and caravans. The “Big […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
Join the St. Joseph Museums for our largest Annual Fundraiser to support educational programming. This years event, St. Joseph Museums Presents: Rewind - A Time Traveling Soirée to Lake Contrary will be held Friday, May 30, 2025 from 6PM-8PM, at the St. Joseph County Club - 50 Ridgeland Road; Country Club, MO. This night of […]
May 22 - August 2! The Montminy Gallery's newest exhibit "Echoes of Missouri" This summer, The Montminy Gallery proudly presents Echoes of Missouri: The African American Journey through Art, History, Music, and Culture, a powerful, multi-disciplinary exhibition running from May 22 through August 2, 2025. This collaborative showcase features local talent and Kansas City area […]
Tracy Montminy was a visionary artist and educator whose legacy continues to inspire creativity, connection, and cultural enrichment throughout our community. As a pioneering muralist and passionate advocate for the arts, Tracy believed in art’s power to unite people and spark change. The Montminy Gallery, named in her honor, carries forward that vision today. We […]
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