Polk County Museum
201 W. Locust St.
Bolivar, MO, 65613
(Corner of Locust and North Main streets)
Seasonal telephone: 417-326-6850
Email: polkcountymuseum@hotmail.com
Open mid May
through mid September
Closed all holidays except July 4 and Labor Day
HOURS
1-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday
ADMISSION
$2.00 - adults
$1.00 -children 6-12 years
children under 6 free with adult only
The Museum makes its home in a former elementary school that was constructed in 1903. It was called the North Ward School. Hundreds of objects and documents touching on area history are on display and stored in the Museum's archives. Exhibits occupy thirteen rooms and areas on three floors of the old school building, which was donated for the purpose of a museum in 1983 after being vacant for several years.
On the grounds stand a two-story log cabin which was erected in 1867. Oral history suggests the cabin was designed as a country store. It was moved from its rural location to the museum grounds in the mid 1980s. A lovely gazebo also graces the grounds of the museum.
The most ancient man-made objects in the Museum's collections are arrowheads, tomahawk blades, and hide scrapers that date back as much as 10,000 years with the appearance here of the First Americans.
A horsehair chair and sofa from 1815 predate Polk County's formation in 1835 and a bed in the McCracken room was made the year the county was born.
Most of the old-time kitchen and farming implements still work, as does the rug loom.
From the North: Travel south on Highway 13 to Bolivar. Turn left (east) at traffic light at intersection of Hwys 13 and 32. (Hwy 32 is now an overpass over Hwy 13. There is still a traffic light at the top of the exit ramp.) Continue east on Hwy 32, a.k.a. Broadway, to the courthouse square. Turn left (north) at four-way stop on Main Ave. Travel north 3 (three) blocks to intersection of Main and Locust. Turn left (west) onto Locust. Turn immediately right (north) into parking lot of museum. Museum can be seen from intersection of Main and Locust.
From the West: Travel east on Highway 32 into Bolivar. Continue east on Hwy 32, a.k.a. Broadway, to the courthouse square. Turn left (north) at four-way stop on Main Ave. Travel north 3 (three) blocks to intersection of Main and Locust. Turn left (west) onto Locust. Turn immediately right (north) into parking lot of museum. Museum can be seen from intersection of Main and Locust.
From the South, Business 13 route: Travel north on Highway 13 to Bolivar. Turn off at first Bolivar exit, Business 13 Highway, a.k.a. Springfield St. Travel through town to the courthouse square. (You will go through two traffic lights). Turn left (west) at the four-way stop sign (Broadway St.). You will meet another four-way stop only a block away. You are STILL on the courthouse square. Turn right (north) at the four-way stop on Main Ave. This will be Highway 83, a.k.a. Main. Travel north 3 (three) blocks to intersection of Main and Locust. Turn left (west) onto Locust. Turn immediately right (north) into parking lot of museum. Museum can be seen from intersection of Main and Locust.
From the South, Highway 32 intersection: Travel north on Highway 13 to Bolivar. Continue to travel around the outskirts of Bolivar on Highway 13 until you reach the overpass/exit ramp at the intersection of Hwys 13 and 32. Take the exit ramp and there is a traffic light at the top of the ramp. Turn right (east) onto Highway 32. Continue east on Hwy 32, a.k.a. Broadway, to the courthouse square. Turn left (north) at four-way stop on Main Ave.. Travel north 3 (three) blocks to intersection of Main and Locust. Turn left (west) onto Locust. Turn immediately right (north) into parking lot of museum. Museum can be seen from intersection of Main and Locust.
From the East: Travel west on Highway 32 into Bolivar. You will come to a four-way stop sign on the courthouse square. Continue west through the square. You will meet another four-way stop only a block away. You are STILL on the courthouse square. Turn right (north) at the second four-way stop. This will be Highway 83, a.k.a. Main. Travel north 3 (three) blocks to intersection of Main and Locust. Turn left (west) onto Locust. Turn immediately right (north) into parking lot of museum. Museum can be seen from intersection of Main and Locust.
Main page | Historical Society information | Pictures of the Museum | Books for Sale
Copyright 2000-2009 by Julie
Wollard Trout for the Historical Society of Polk County,
Missouri.
Last revised: Monday, March 02, 2009
For more information or comments on this webpage, please contact the
webmaster.