MACON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
1402 S. Missouri Street, Macon, MO
Mailing address: Box 304 Macon, MO 63552
1402 S. Missouri Street, Macon, MO
Mailing address: Box 304 Macon, MO 63552
The Macon County Historical Society Museum and Genealogy Library is located in what was the original activity center for the Blees Military Academy built in 1900. The building measured 60' x 100' and the gymnasium proper was 60' x 70'. It
also housed a 20' x 50' swimming pool, a three-lane bowling alley, photography dark room, a lab for developing pictures, a game room, a shooting gallery and shower and laundry area. In 1905 the Academy was ranked second only to West Point. Colonel Blees died unexpectedly in 1906, and the school closed at the end of the 1913 school term.
In 1914 the grounds and buildings were purchased by the Still family and converted to a hospital. The gym was used for activities for both the patients and staff. By 1916 when the hospital was getting full and more space was needed, they
looked to the gymnasium for more room. A contractor was secured, but because of the war, supplies and labor were hard to acquire. Finally the gymnasium was converted to allow 56 more rooms for the hospital and was called the Still-Hildreth Annex. At the same time a tunnel was put in to connect the two buildings, and another building was added on the north side for the doctors to use for patients and families. The dirt from those two projects was used to fill in most of the basement under the gym floor, and the swimming pool area.
After the hospital moved in 1968, the Annex was home to the Missouri National Guard for several years. In 2006 the Macon County Historical Society took over, renovating the building a little at a time. Opening day was April 8, 2008, with only about 1/3 of the main floor having displays. Today, all three floors are open to display the story of Macon County and beyond. On the main floor, which is handicap accessible by an outside ramp, there are displays from the Blees Military Academy, Still-Hildreth Sanatorium, Missouri State Highway Department, artifacts and memorabilia from different towns in the county, plus the Genealogy Library and much more.
The top floor showcases the design of the building with the exposure of the beams from the original gymnasium. Displays include a railroad exhibit, one-room country school, school activity room, barber shop, beauty shop, kitchen collection, hospital room, doctor's area, tool room, farm tools and buggies, plus a full-scale grist mill, and a county organization and printing press room.
The lower floor has displays in a loom room, a mining room, and a large military room housing donated military photos and items to honor the men and women connected to Macon County who have served our country in all branches during war time and peace.
The museum is open April-October on Saturday (daytime) , and Monday (evening) or by appointment.
Contact:
Museum Tour and Information call 660-651-6814 or the museum at 660-395-0266 (leave a message)
Items to Donate call 660-651-6814 or the museum at 660-395-0266 (leave a message)
also housed a 20' x 50' swimming pool, a three-lane bowling alley, photography dark room, a lab for developing pictures, a game room, a shooting gallery and shower and laundry area. In 1905 the Academy was ranked second only to West Point. Colonel Blees died unexpectedly in 1906, and the school closed at the end of the 1913 school term.
In 1914 the grounds and buildings were purchased by the Still family and converted to a hospital. The gym was used for activities for both the patients and staff. By 1916 when the hospital was getting full and more space was needed, they
looked to the gymnasium for more room. A contractor was secured, but because of the war, supplies and labor were hard to acquire. Finally the gymnasium was converted to allow 56 more rooms for the hospital and was called the Still-Hildreth Annex. At the same time a tunnel was put in to connect the two buildings, and another building was added on the north side for the doctors to use for patients and families. The dirt from those two projects was used to fill in most of the basement under the gym floor, and the swimming pool area.
After the hospital moved in 1968, the Annex was home to the Missouri National Guard for several years. In 2006 the Macon County Historical Society took over, renovating the building a little at a time. Opening day was April 8, 2008, with only about 1/3 of the main floor having displays. Today, all three floors are open to display the story of Macon County and beyond. On the main floor, which is handicap accessible by an outside ramp, there are displays from the Blees Military Academy, Still-Hildreth Sanatorium, Missouri State Highway Department, artifacts and memorabilia from different towns in the county, plus the Genealogy Library and much more.
The top floor showcases the design of the building with the exposure of the beams from the original gymnasium. Displays include a railroad exhibit, one-room country school, school activity room, barber shop, beauty shop, kitchen collection, hospital room, doctor's area, tool room, farm tools and buggies, plus a full-scale grist mill, and a county organization and printing press room.
The lower floor has displays in a loom room, a mining room, and a large military room housing donated military photos and items to honor the men and women connected to Macon County who have served our country in all branches during war time and peace.
The museum is open April-October on Saturday (daytime) , and Monday (evening) or by appointment.
Contact:
Museum Tour and Information call 660-651-6814 or the museum at 660-395-0266 (leave a message)
Items to Donate call 660-651-6814 or the museum at 660-395-0266 (leave a message)