Pulaski County Museum

The Pulaski County Museum explores the history of the county from the pioneer days to modern times. It features several rooms with specific themes. These include the military room, schoolhouse room, homestead room, settler's room, courtroom, photography/medical room, and the Trail of Tears room. The museum is housed in the former Pulaski County Courthouse, which was built in 1903, and is operated by the Pulaski County Historical Society.

Pulaski County, in its present form, was created in 1859. Before that it was much larger but eventually divided into smaller counties. The first county court met in a home 1834. It moved to other homes in the next few years before moving into a two-story log courthouse built in 1840. Three years later, Waynesville became the county seat and a new, larger courthouse was erected. It was used until the end of the Civil War and converted into a hospital for Union soldiers. The building was condemned in 1872 after it was damaged during the war. A two-story brick courthouse was built as a result. Unfortunately lightning struck it in 1903 and it burned down. The present courthouse was built in its place. A fine example of Romanesque architecture, it features arched windows, an arched hood over the main entrance, and a tower with arched openings.

The Pulaski County Historical Society was established in 1969 and appears to have moved into the courthouse in 1990 after county government offices moved out. The courthouse is one of two located on Route 66 in Missouri and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Homepage. Pulaski County Museum & Historical Society. Accessed June 8, 2022. http://www.route66courthouse.com.

Jones, Launa. "Pulaski County Courthouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/63820029/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MO/79001391.pdf