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The Ray County Museum
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The Ray County Museum will be closed on May 5 and May 9,10,11,12. Thanks, Linda Emley

Administrator's Quarterly Report -- April 2012

Like the rest of Ray County, springtime came early at the Ray

County Museum this year. It’s so nice to sit on the front porch and

enjoy the smell of lilac blooms and walk around the yard and

enjoy the springtime flowers. I often wonder if the original resi-

dents of the “poor farm” enjoyed the beauty of the grounds that

surround this building. Did they have time to stop and smell the

roses along the way or were they too busy trying to keep the farm

going? I doubt they had roses, but I hope they had some flowers to

enjoy while they lived here. We are very lucky in our modern

world that we have John Dee Thompson from the county,who

does such a wonderful job of keeping the museum yard looking

nice. Everyone is welcome to come up anytime and enjoy the

down home feeling of sitting on the front porch of Ray County’s

own museum.

Things have really been busy at the museum for the first part

of 2012. We never did have a winter slowdown and the spring

traffic has been steady. So far this year we’ve had tours by a local

scout troop, the Orrick Redhatters, a tour bus from Liberty and

lots of other groups coming to see what our museum has to offer.

We are looking forward to an increase in traffic over the next few

weeks due to many out of state visitors coming to tour the new

L.D.S Temple in Kansas City. I recently toured the temple and was

happy to find the new L.D.S. Historic Sites brochure has a picture

of Richmond on the front cover and a map of Richmond on the

inside. We have already had a couple of tours visit this past week

that were in the area for the Temple opening.

Our Battle of Albany 150th Anniversary program is moving

right along. The word is out and we have been getting calls at the

museum asking about the details. The dates have been set for Oct.

24, 25,26 -2014 and committees are being formed. Please give us

a call if you would like to be a part of this historic event.

We have been working with the Missouri State Parks on a

project to place a marker in Ray County to tell the story about the

Battle of Albany and the Partisan Rangers that fought in this area.

This was a very important part of Civil War history.

The Ray County Historical Society is putting together a

booklet about the Battle of Albany and would love to have any

stories or pictures that anyone has of their ancestors that were part

of this battle. There are many people that still live in this area who

have family stories related to the Civil War battles of Missouri.

As always, we are adding new exhibits to the museum all the

time so please stop by and see what the Ray County Museum has

to offer.

Linda Emley

Are you interested in Volunteering at the Museum

The Ray County Historical Society is always looking for community & historical-minded people to help at the museum.

You could play a part in determining the future of the Ray County Museum.

If you would be interested in volunteering at the museum, contact Linda Emley at 816-776-2305.

Welcome To The Ray County Museum

Richmond, Missouri 64085

On a hill overlooking the Ray County Fairgrounds stands an old brick building of curious proportions. Built in 1910, in the shape of a "Y", every room has an outside view. The total cost of $19,491.00 was spent to create County Home (Poor Farm). This three-story building has a total of 54 rooms and its unique design earned County Home a place on the National Register of Historical Places. In the 1970's this unique building became the Ray County Museum sponsored by the Ray County Historical Society. The displays are varied and of great local interest. Rooms preserve Ray County's rich heritage and particular historical events, some of which are The Civil War, World War I and II. Other subjects and events represented in the vast 54 room museum are Indian Artifacts, The Shotwell Parlor(1800's), Coal Mining, Black History, Country Kitchen, Governors, The Daughters of the American Revolution, Quilts, Country School, Post Office, Costume, Doctor, Wildlife, and The Mormon History Exhibit Room funded by the Mormon Church. A very extensive genealogical library is located just off the Main Entryway. The Ray County Historical Society, in conjunction with the Ray County Genealogical Society, maintains regular hours to help historical researchers. The Ray County Museum is rated at the top for county museums in the State of Missouri. It is open year round. Admission is FREE to Ray County residents.

$2 Donation Suggested For Tours.

Richmond Residents Tours Are Free

Courtesy of the City of Richmond

Group tours are available with advance reservation.

816-776-2305

raycountyhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com

Proud Member of

Old Trails Regional Tourism Partnership

Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City Historical Society
Pony Express Museum
Civil War round Table of Western Missouri
Legends of America

American Association for State and Local History

Triple A Travel Guide 2010

Days Open- Wednesday through Saturday- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

901 West Royle Street, Richmond, Missouri 64085

Mission Statement

Our mission is to collect, preserve and present the history and culture of the people of Ray County, Misouri and the families who pioneered the area to make it the County it is today.

Through our exhibits, research facilities and many other services and events, the museum seeks to inspire visitors in matters of local history.

* * * * *

The Ray County Historical Society was established in the 1950’s. It became a large group of the community who wanted to not only preserve our history of Ray County, Missouri, but to educate the next generations of our past.
In 1973, we found a home for our Ray County Museum. Built as a Poor farm in 1910, this stately Georgian, brick building was standing on its original 25 acres on a small bluff and looking out toward our town square. The County owned the building and willingly agreed to allow us to use this for our museum.

In 1974, we had our ground-breaking of our ‘ gem’ in the heart of Ray County. Governor Kit Bond and several other State Representatives helped us celebrate that day in October. When we first opened, there were four displayed rooms. All restored to their natural beauty, and furnished with special artifacts. Now, we have 37 rooms displayed and more coming!
From the early 1800’s to the 1940’s, we have special artifacts, the history of Ray County displayed in one building.
Three floors of displays, varied in themes, and guided tours, walking tours, visitors from around the globe!
We offer a ‘full service’ to our guests. From booked teas in the formal parlor, to gift shop and historical publications for sale, and bus tours of historic sites of interest in Ray County.
The museum is open year around. The tours are free, but a donation is always appreciated.

The lower floor is a beautiful open reception area where you will be treated with period pieces along with fully accessible historical library. Books containing family histories, county history, etc.

Make your plans to include coming to the beautiful grounds and tour our ‘themed’ rooms to let your children and yourselves enjoy the peace and calm of yester-year.

Disclaimer

This website and the information it contains are provided as a public service.

Restriction of Liability

We make no claim, promise or guarantee about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this website. As history and history research goes, there are always different sides of an issue. We weren’t there and have to depend on written and oral history by others before us.

No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory for freedom from computer virus is given with respect to the contents of this website or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources.

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Your contributions in any amount ($5, $10, $20, etc) are greatly appreciated.

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