The cave was discovered on the morning of September 11, 2001. Construction on the road was ordered to stop but some explosives had already been put into place and could not be removed. The workers were given the permission to ignite those explosives. The explosion opened a hole into the cave, which was previously unknown. The bones, fossils, claw marks, and animal tracks in the cave were dated to the Ice Age (in geologic terms, the Pleistocene&nbsp;Epoch). The cave is the oldest known Ice Age cave&nbsp;yet found in the country. <br><br>To preserve and study it, the institute was established in 2003. A facility to store and examine the fossils and other items found was built in 2005. The museum opened a few years later in 2009.

The Missouri Institute of Natural Science was founded in 2003 and the opened to the public in 2009.

Numerous fossils and other specimens are on display.

Website

Opened in 2009, the Missouri Institute of Natural Science is the state's first natural history museum. Its primary mission is to educate the public about Missouri's natural history and how to learn from the past to better protect the environment today. Exhibits feature numerous fossils, artifacts, and specimens on display including dinosaur bones and fossilized bacteria. Many of these items were found in the nearby Riverbluff Cave, which was discovered after explosives were set off during road construction work (the museum was created as a result of this discovery; it is not yet open to the public). One of the museum's highlights will be a Triceratops skeleton found in Wyoming that is about 40% complete, which will be put on display once preservation and restoration work is complete. In addition to the museum, visitors can also hunt for fossils at a spot not far from the museum building and go for a hike in the surrounding woods.

Missouri Institute of Natural Science

This driving tour begins at Wilsons Creek National Battlefield and takes visitors to each of the museums in Springfield along with landmarks related to the Civil War in this part of Missouri. Highlights of the tour include the Calaboose Museum, the Springfield Museum of Art, the Route 66 Car Museum, and the History Museum on the Square. Be sure to also consider the Nathan Boone State Historic Site which is a short drive and located just northwest of Springfield. Be sure to also look at the many individual Clio entries for historic buildings and markers that are related to other topics.   

Springfield Missouri Museums and Battlefields Tour

<p>It's the summer of 1861 in Missouri. The newly elected Governor, Claiborne Fox Jackson, decided to change his stance on secession and pull Missouri out of the Union following other southern slave holding states. Having hailed from Little Dixie in Saline County around Arrow Rock, and being an ardent defender of slavery Jackson felt Missouri should support and defend the South against federal troops. Many Missourians were against secession and supported staying in the Union. A state convention was held with pro Union voters to not secede. Jackson was determined for Missouri to leave the Union and tried to gain support in Jefferson City. Jackson openly rejected President Lincoln’s call for volunteers on April 23, 1861 and contacted Confederate President Jefferson Davis to pledge Missouri’s support to the southern cause.</p><p>           Gov. Jackson developed a plan to call the state militia together mustering around 1,000 men at Lindell’s Grove in St. Louis. The militia encampment would be called Camp Jackson. The militia under the command of General Frost and Gov. Jackson had plans to raid the federal arsenal at St. Louis and attempt to cripple the Union forces in St. Louis. Union Capt. Nathaniel Lyon thought the militia gathering was suspicious and it is rumored that he wore a dress to the camp to disguise himself and gather intelligence. He figured out that the militia were secessionists and were arming themselves. He shipped many of the arsenal weapons across the river to Illinois. On May 10, 1861 Capt. Lyon and approximately 6,000 federal troops and volunteers surrounded Camp Jackson taking the militia men prisoner. The federal troops marched the prisoners back to the arsenal when riots broke out and troops fired into crowds killing several civilians 3 prisoners and 2 federal troops. This would be called the Camp Jackson Affair.</p><p>           Capt. Lyon’s actions caught the eye of President Lincoln and he was promoted to Brig. Gen. and commander of the Dept. of the West. After the Camp Jackson Affair, Gov. Jackson, Gen. Sterling Price (Missouri State Guard), Francis P. Blair (Prominent St. Louis Politician), and newly promoted Brig. Gen. Lyon, met on June 11th 1861 at the Planter House Hotel in St. Louis to negotiate Missouri’s status as a state in rebellion or to remain in the Union. Negotiations broke down and the fiery Brig. Gen. Lyon famously said. “I would see you, and you, and you, and you, [pointing to each man in the room] and every man, woman, and child in the State dead and buried. This means war. In an hour one of my officers will call for you and conduct you out of my lines.”</p><p>           Gov. Price left the meeting and immediately called for 50,000 Missouri volunteers to defend the state. Jackson and Price took a train to Jefferson City, and ordered the burning of railroad bridges and telegraph lines along the way. Price told other State Guard leaders to assemble their units and prepare to fight. Jackson orders the evacuation of Jefferson City. Gen. Lyon chases Jackson out of Jefferson City taking the city and holding it for the remainder of the war. With Gov. Jackson in exile, the state convention appointed Hamilton R. Gamble Provisional Governor.</p><p>           Gen. Lyon’s intentions were clear. He was going to keep Missouri in the Union at all costs. He had battles at Carthage and Boonville on a smaller scale. Both Union and Confederate forces headed south towards Springfield. The Union had camped in town and planned a surprise attack on the Confederate forces that outnumbered them by over 2 to 1, with around 12,100 Confederates (7,170 Missouri State Guard) under Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch to 5,400 Union under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon. Initially the Union forces pushed the Confederates off of the Wilson’s Creek and took the high ground at what would be called “Bloody Hill”. Union Col. Franz Sigel, a German immigrant paused his assault at Skeeg’s Branch. Confederate Gen. McCulloch reorganized Confederate units (3rd Louisiana and part of Missouri State Guard) to counter attack Col. Sigel. Col. Sigel and his men thought the 1st Iowa Infantry was coming up to assist. They did not know that it was the 3rd Louisiana because both units at this time wore gray uniforms, as there was no standard blue or gray uniforms this early in the war. The 3rd Louisiana got right up on Sigel’s men before they realized they were Confederates, and they were driven off the battlefield losing 4 cannons.</p><p>Confederate forces reorganized and attacked the “Bloody Hill” three times with each side suffering significant casualties. During the fight for “Bloody Hill” Lyon was wounded twice and had his horse shot out from under him. He attempted a final charge to rally his troops but was mortally wounded. With Gen. Lyon out of the fight, Union forces became disoriented and were forced to retreat to Springfield. While it was a victory for the Confederates, they did not pursue the Union troops, letting them reorganize. Gen. Lyon would be the first Union general to be killed during the Civil War.</p><p>Brig. Gen. Lyon’s body was unknowingly left on the battlefield and removed to the Ray House that had been turned into a hospital for wounded. Lyon’s body was then taken to Springfield to be returned to Union forces, and eventually went to his family in Connecticut. After the battle the Confederate forces were in disagreement on future plans and Gen. McCulloch, an Arkansas native chose to head back into Arkansas and let the Missouri State Guard handle the actions in Missouri. The victory proved costly, but motivated Gen. Price to try and control the entire state, and kick Union forces out. Gen. Price moved north to fight at Lexington on September 20, 1861. With early victories in the state, Price felt that Missouri State Guard forces could hold the state till Confederate regulars could help. In early 1862, Price and the Missouri State Guard would be effectively kicked out of Missouri and forced to go to Arkansas where Union forces would catch them at the Battle of Pea Ridge. The Union achieved victory ending Price’s dreams of controlling Missouri until his famous raid in 1864</p>

<p>The Battle of Wilson's Creek took place on Aug. 10, 1861 and was the first major battle west of the Mississippi River. It was the second major battle of the Civil War taking place shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) on July 21, 1861. The battle had a significant outcome on the way future operations were ran in Missouri and the state being divided much like the country.</p>

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of the state's best athletes. It opened in 1994 and houses over 4,000 sports memorabilia on display. There are also interactive exhibits such as a NASCAR simulator and a batters box. Located outside is the Legends Walk of Fame, which features busts of notable Missouri sports figures.

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame 

<div>This museum is home to a wide variety of aircraft and military equipment from different episodes in America's military past. The director of the facility, Judge Osborne, is a lifelong collector and&nbsp;plans to expand the museum as resources allow. The mission of the AMMO is a more visual and hands-on museum experience for both young people and adults.&nbsp;<br><br></div><div><b><u>Highlights of the Museum</u></b>&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>The museum houses an AH1-S Cobra Helicopter that was donated to the museum by the 1107th Missouri Air National Guard in 1994. The museum received the helicopter stripped of most instruments, the engine removed, and the rotor assembly disabled for flight. AMMO restored the aircraft so visitors can see the final variant of the Vietnam era attack helicopter used by the U.S. military prior to the introduction of the AH-64 Apache helicopter and the upgraded AH1-Z, currently in use by the U.S. Marine Corps. The AH1-S was the first U.S. attack helicopter to field the C-NITE, night vision for Cobra gunners that allowed for easier target acquisition in poor visual conditions. Visitors are allowed to sit in the Cobra helicopter. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Visitors can also experience the aircraft in a hands-on way by sitting in the seats of AMMO's collection of American military aircraft. The cockpit of an F-80 Shooting Star offers a seat in the U.S. Air Forces intercepter jet of the Korean War era. With a top speed of 580 miles per hour and an operating ceiling of almost 47,000 feet, F-80s were Americas initial steps into the jet age and the Cold War.&nbsp; <br></div><div><br></div><div>The museum has recently restored an F-84 F fighter jet, and it is located for viewing at 2546 East Division Street in Springfield Missouri. The Thunderstreak was manufactured by Republic for the U.S. Air Force and saw service into the early 1960s. The F-84 F had a top speed of 685 miles per hour and could carry 6,000 pounds in bombs. The Thunderstreak saw extensive use in the Mediterranean during the tension-filled days of the Berlin Blockade and the Cuban quarantine.</div>

The Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks features restored military vehicles, aircraft, equipment, and memorabilia from the American military experience. Highlights include an AH1-S Cobra helicopter that visitors can sit in and an F-85F Thunderstreak fighter jet on display nearby. The Museum also offers many examples of U.S. military ground vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, and equipment. The museum staff includes volunteers and local residents who work to restore equipment and the organization strives to create an educational museum for young people with many hands-on exhibits and a working pre-war Singer flight simulator. 

The Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks

The Railroad Historical Museum is located in Grant Beach Park and consists of four connected antique train cars (it is possible to walk through all of them) and a replica 1890s depot. The train cars are the St. Louis San-Francisco Locomotive No.4524, a Burlington Baggage Car, a Chicago and Northwestern Commuter Car, and a Burlington Northern Caboose. Visitors will see many items on display including photographs, artifacts, equipment, paintings, and videos. 

Railroad Historical Museum

The museum was founded by car enthusiast and collector, Guy Mace, who bought his first car (a Jaguar) in 1990. From there, his collection grew. For those interested, the museum offers a chauffeur service in a car for special events.&nbsp;

Located along the famed Route 66, one of the first highways built in the country that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, the Route 66 museum houses almost 70 cars dating from the 1890s to the mid-2000s. They fall under the categories Brass Era (the oldest cars), Classics, Sports, and Celebrity. Cars of note include Jaguars, Rolls Royces, a 1963 Morgan owned by General Norman Schwarzkopf, the truck used in the movie "The Grapes of Wrath," and a 1936 Horch that was sold to the German government (49 other models were sold as well). 

Route 66 Car Museum

<p>Constructed in 1891, the Calaboose Museum is a historic jail and the oldest city-owned building in Springfield. Its architecture is a combination of Palladian and Greek Revival styles. The building is a police substation but the first floor is a museum and open to the public in the summer through early fall on Fridays in the evening. The old jail was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.</p>

Calaboose Museum

<p>Step inside the front doors and find yourself immersed in history. From a touchscreen table featuring Springfield "then and now" to gallery introductory videos, the Welcome Center provides interactive experiences as you begin your visit. In the Welcome Center you can also find stamps for the Missouri Civil War Passport and the National Park Service Trail of Tears Passport.</p><p><br /></p><p>The History Museum on the Square features six main galleries highlighting the rich history of Springfield using innovative technologies and traditional approaches to engage visitors. These permanent galleries tell the stories of significant events in Springfield and create distinct and intentional dialogues about objects, individuals, and history– dialogues that will foster examinations of unique aspects of Springfield, Greene County and its people. A rich and vast collection of artifacts, photographs, and the “voices of history” are combined using innovative technologies. The galleries explore topics of Native Americans in Southwest Missouri, founders and pioneers, the Civil War in Springfield, Wild Bill Hickok and his infamous shoot-out on the Square, transportation history, and Route 66. Voices of History is the temporary gallery space that has rotating exhibits and traveling exhibitions on display throughout the year.</p><p><br /></p><p>The History Museum on the Square welcomes visitors of all ages with hands-on interactions in the galleries, games to play, short films to watch, and artifacts and photographs to explore.</p>

The History Museum on the Square is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Springfield and Greene County. This regional history museum is an expanded educational destination for Springfield and its visitors. Located on historic Park Central Square and the original Route 66 in Springfield, the buildings housing the museum have been restored to preserve and share the rich history of the city.

The History Museum was voted USA Today's Best New Attraction 2019! 



History Museum on the Square

<p>As noted above, Springfield was a key supply depot for the Union. It was from here that supplies from St. Louis were sent to a Union force in northern Arkansas called the Army of the Frontier, which had been there since early December. The Confederates wanted to recapture Springfield to cut off the supply line and force the Army of the Frontier to retreat from Arkansas. To prepare for the battle, Brown ordered arms and ammunition to be given to wounded soldiers and local militiamen, and ordered his troops to occupy the city's defenses, which included five earthen forts and college building surrounded by a stockade.  </p><p>On the morning of January 8, Marmaduke's force approached Springfield from the south in two columns (a third, which had 700 men, was supposed to as well but its commander did not receive the orders to do so). Brown sent two regiments of the state cavalry militia to engage and delay the Confederates and retreated back to Springfield by around 1p.m. Over the next several hours, the Confederates attacked the Union line, hoping to find a weakness. Some of the fiercest fighting occurred at Fort No. 4, which was 160-foot wide redoubt surrounded by a trench and included two cannons mounted there during the night before. The Confederates attacked it repeatedly but failed to take it. A key reason was that Brown ordered the 10 houses in the cannon's line of fire to be burned down and the smoke disrupted the Confederate attack. They did capture the stockaded college building, which was undefended, and used it as a staging area. </p><p>In one neighborhood around the intersection of South Main and West Mt. Vernon, fighting occurred house-to-house and in backyards and alleys. Union forces suffered a number of casualties and retreated toward Walnut Street. The Confederates prepared to attack towards the center of the city but Union reinforcements arrived and pushed the Confederates back, retaking the land they had just lost. The Confederates made one last attack, on the Union's right flank, but it failed as well. The battle ended around nightfall and Confederate forces left the city in the morning. The victory enabled the Union to continue using Springfield as a vital supply depot for the Army of the Frontier.</p><p>The numbers of the killed and wounded vary in the sources but it appears approximately 19 Union troops were killed and 146 were wounded. The Confederates lost 45 men and 105 were wounded. A few days later on the 11th, Marmaduke's force was defeated at the Battle of Hartville.</p>

<p>This historical marker is the first of series of twelve in the downtown area that describe various points in the Battle of Springfield, which took place on January 8, 1863. Also known as the Second Battle of Springfield (the First Battle of Springfield occurred on October 25, 1861), it was unique in the Civil War in that it involved house-to-house fighting. Springfield, which was an important Union supply depot during the war, was defended by a force of around 2,100 men commanded by General Egbert B. Brown. The force was comprised of around 1,300 troops as well as armed civilians, convalescing troops, and state militiamen. The Confederate force of around 1,800 to 2,100 troops and calvary was led by Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke. The Confederates failed to recapture Springfield and the city remained under Union control for the rest of the war. Next to the marker is another one that provides an overview of the battle and its aftermath.</p>

Battle of Springfield Historical Marker No. 1

The idea for the museum originated from the Junior League of Springfield. The governing body of the museum, Discovery Center Springfield incorporated in 1991. With the help of volunteers and donations, the museum was able to purchase three old buildings, renovate two of them (they demolished the third and built an addition in its place in 2003), and open eventually open the museum in 1998.

Discovery Center Springfield is a museum geared for children where they can learn about science, math, technology, health, culture, and art. Opened in 1998, the museums features numerous hands-on exhibits and activities, giving them the opportunity to learn in an engaging way. The museum also offers a variety of educational programming such as outreach programs, parent/child workshops, and distance learning, where staff members go to schools to teach kids about a specific topic. The museum is the only one of its kind in the region.

Discovery Center Springfield

The museum's origins date to 1926, when a group of women art enthusiasts formed an&nbsp;organization called the Art Study Club. The club grew eventually grew&nbsp;into the museum, which on incorporated&nbsp;on June 26, 1928.&nbsp;

The Springfield Museum of Art is the city's oldest cultural organization. It houses over 10,000 works of art—including sculptures, paintings, textiles, decorative arts, pottery, ceramics—from a wide range of cultures and periods. A number of large sculptures are displayed on the museum grounds. The museum also offers classes and workshops for people of all ages in drawing, painting, pottery, and other areas. The museum has earned the distinction of being accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Springfield Museum of Art

The museum came to fruition after 10 years of planning and construction. Over 40 conservation organizations, including National Geographic, the National Wildlife Federation, and the National Audobon Society collaborated with Morris to develop the museum. Morris decided to build it here because Springfield is his hometown and he wanted to give this part of the country access to a world-class museum dedicated to conservation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opened in 2017, the Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is dedicated to wildlife, conservation, and celebrating the hunters and anglers who share these goals. It was founded by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The attraction is large—350,000 square feet—and is divided into two sections, the wildlife section and the aquarium. The wildlife section features exhibits with large, immersive dioramas (complete with smells) with animals in their natural habitats. The heads and horn collection of the Boone and Crockett Club (the country's oldest wildlife and conservation organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt) is also located here. The aquarium, which is 1.5 million gallons in size, holds around 35,000 fish, reptiles, jellyfish, eels, and other aquatic animals in themed sections. Visitors can also dive (in a cage using special air helmets) into the shark tank to get a more immersive experience.

Springfield Missouri Museums and Battlefields Tour

Missouri Institute of Natural Science

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information