Image above: History Museum on the Square window with reflection of town square, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History.
Spotlight on Lesser Known History
History Museum on the Square
Rt 66 100th Anniversary, Missouri
America's Best History Spotlight
On this page we're going to Spotlight the lesser known historic sites and attractions that dot the history landscape across the USA and are worth a visit if you're in their area. And while they may be lesser known, some are very unique, and will be that rare find. You'll be, at times, on the ground floor, or maybe even know something others don't. It'll be fun. Visit them.
History Museum on the Square (Route 66), Missouri
The History Museum on the Square in Springfield, Missouri tells the story of Route 66 on its 100th anniversary, a gun battle with Wild Bill Hickock,and other subjects in a spectacular and innovative history museum. Yes, it is eclectic. This year, 2026, adds the wrinkle of the celebration of one hundred years of the iconic road, now replaced by interstates, but holding on to its place in americana as it winds across the nation from Springfield, or Chicago, as its eastern terminus all the way to the beaches of Malibu, California. You can argue about which midwest city holds better claim. This story is about Springfield. As this year winds down to better fall weather, perhaps you'd like to visit one claim and take a ride on the roadbed of kitschy attractions, roadside motels, and travel when you had to use a paper map, or a Triptik.
Image above: Route 66 Timeline Panel at the History Museum on the Square, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History.
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Info, What's There Now, History Nearby
History Museum on the Square (Route 66), Missouri
Located in a historic building on the Springfield square, the museum covers a panapoly of subjects from Springfield's western past. Outside the building are the markers for where Wild Bill Hickock and his nemises held their gunfight; Hickock won, nemises dead. There are exhibits on Route 66 and its Springfield birthplace located on several floors, especially on this Annivesary year, with vibrant pictures and exhibits of life on the road from the 1930's through the 1960's, and even today in smaller bunches. Other floors include exhibits on the American West, the Civil War, Pioneers, Transportation, and Native Americans.
Image above: Wild Bill Hickock exhibit on 4th floor of the History Museum on the Square, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History. Below: Old fashioned trolley with Time Machine video exhibit inside, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History.
Where Is It
The History Museum on the Square is located at 154 Park Central Square, Springfield, MO 65806. This is the center of town facing the town square. Two hour free parking is available in various parking garages nearby. The Route 66 Arch and Musical Road are located at the eastern end of St. Louis Street.
Minute Walk in History
Route 66
Take a trip down memory lane, or make new memories, with this montage of photos from the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. With a bouncy tune reminiscent of the times, check out the kitschy motels, drive-ins, and attraction along the famous road from Chicago to Springfield to Malibu, California. Includes footage from the History Museum on the Square and Route 66 arch in Springfield, Missouri.
What is There Now
History Museum on the Square (Route 66), Missouri
Located in an old building at one corner of the Public Square, the museum includes four large floors of exhibits, with elevator, that takes you through the many incarnations of Springfield history. There is a welcome station, gifts, places to sit, and air conditioning for those hot Missouri summer days. Outside the museum is a public square surrounding by period buildings. The famous Fox Theater, now owner by the Museum, the markers for the Hickock gun fight, walking tours of the two Civil War battles or skirmishes held downtown, and down St. Louis Street, that new Arch and tire tune of America the Beautiful.
When Open and How Much
Museum on the Square is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for a Sunday opening at 1:00 p.m. There is an admission fee, ranging from $10 children 4-12 to adults $16. The Musical Road and Springfield Route 66 Arch are free, as is the public square.
Fees and hours are subject to change.
Photo above: Part of the Native American exhibit in the History Museum on the Square, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History.
Websites
History Museum on the Square
Visit Springfield
Visit Springfield Guide, Missouri
History Nearby
The history nearby has ties to many disparate things. There is the Civil War battle of Wilson's Creek just south of town, the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie, one hour west, and a bunch of other southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas sites.
Photos, History, and More Spotlights
History Museum on the Square
What were our favorites in the museum? Well, we'd have to say the Route 66 exhibits on the fourth floor. In bright lights and exhibit panels, it takes you through its timeline, has a film you can watch in the cut off seat of an old car, a booth from a drive-in, and more.
Second place for us ... again on the 4th floor and outside in the square, we are a sucker for a good old western gunfight, this one in 1865 between Wild Bill Hickock and Davis Tutt. It is stated this was the first recorded gunfight. We have not fact checked that. The reason for the fight; women, gambling, and a watch. The exhibits for this overlook the square to give you a birds-eye view.
And we just loved the inside a trolley car video timeline of facts from Springfield's transportation past. Felt like you were in a time travel game. Kids are gonna love that.
Photo above: Train exhibit above the book shop of the History Museum on the Square, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History.
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Route 66 100th Anniversary
It was the dream of John T. Woodruff that a cross country road would take you from Chicago, okay Springfield, to the lands of California. He fought for the name, Route 66, and the stretch of road that went through Missouri. This was the playground for travelers after the depression to get on the open road and drive across the country. And boy did they do that. One story motels greeted visitors all along the way. The largest ball of yarn awaited. Dinner was in diners that dotted the highway; they had Americana car themes and great milkshakes. There's still time to get in on the 100th Anniversary tour through fall and early winter. And if its another year past the 100th, so be it. Enjoy.
Image above: Route 66 exhibit in the History on the Square Museum, 2026. Courtesy America's Best History.
Route 66 Arch, Music, Diner, and the Biggest Bass Pro Shop
We were told when in the History Museum on the Square of various other reminders of Route 66 in the town. One, a newly built arch at the end of St. Louis Avenue, with the road leading up to playing a tire version of America the Beautiful. Took awhile to figure out how to get that to work. It is not right at the arch, but before it on the road leading there. Place your right tire on the rumble strips, drive at thirty miles per hour, then sing along.
A bit backwards into town and you can visit the biggest Bass Pro Shop in the world. Yes, Springfield was its birthplace, too, and now this store not only sells the merchandise for outdoors of which Bass Pro is famous for, but includes free, and not free, museums inside on a huge number of topics; hunting, fishing, an aquarium, and stock car racing.
Images above: Route 66 Arch in center of road, built for the 100th Anniversary of the road, 2026. Courtesy Springfieldmo.org.
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