The Walters Boone County Museum recalls the traditional wood-hewn family farmhouse with its weathered boards and expansive porches. The heritage of Boone County as a vital gateway to America’s westward expansion is evidenced by the development of key industries in the community. Building on a strong history of agrigulture, education, medicine and banking, Boone County’s largest city, Columbia, is home to Columbia College, Stephens College, and the University of Missoure; and two major hospitals, Boone Hospital System the University Hospital System. Artifacts and collections from throughout the county are conserved and curated in exhibits. The Museum and Galleries works in partnership with history organizations in other areas of the County to portray the stories and culture that comprise Boone County’s rich heritage.

Inside the Museum and Galleries, freestanding exhibits tell the stories of Missouri settlers and honor the memories of 200 years of Boone County spirit, from the challenges of its earliest pioneers to today’s war heros; from the efforts of the county’s earliest doctors, to the cutting edge health care offered to residents in the 21st Century; from those who tilled the land with a mule and plow, to companies that grew helping those landowners become successful famers in the heart of Missouri.

Historic Sites

Just inside the Museum entrance is a large map of Boone County which depicts sites around the county of historic significance. Special cast aluminum markers created by the Boone County Historical Society have been placed at these locations, identifying among others, spots along the original Boonslick Trail, and houses and structures of historic importance. The BCHS Historic Sites Committee reviews, selects and recognizes such sites annually.

Hall of Fame

The Boone County Hall of Fame identifies individuals and organizations critical to Boone County’s past, and preserves their stories inside the Walters History Museum. These exceptional residents feature a wide selection of inductees, including Daniel Boone, for whom the county is named; pioneer physician Achilles F. Sneed; John William “Blind” Boone, known for his ragtime music; and Albert Bishop Chance, founder of the electrical supply manufacturing facility AB Chance Company in Centralia. Nominations to the BCHS Boone County Hall of Fame are reviewed and named by the Endowment Trust Board, and inductees are honored at the annual Hall of Fame reception.

Museum Gift Shop

Located in the wide central lobby of the Walters History Museum, the Museum Gift Shop focuses on items that evoke the culture of Boone County. The Gift Shop feautures a selection of art prints, craft items, books on history and local individuals, music and Missouri memorabilia.