Step into 200 years of Boone County life at Boone History Village, a thoughtfully preserved collection of homes and structures that tell the story of how our community was built. Located just behind our main building, the Village features historic buildings native to Boone County, each representing a distinct era from 1818 through 1930. Together, they offer a vivid look at the people, labor, and everyday moments that shaped this place.
Since 2005, Boone Junction has grown as a planned village of historic homes. The Gordon-Collins Log Cabin, Easley Country Store, Ryland Farm House, and McQuitty House were each relocated from other parts of the county to this site for preservation and public education. Every structure invites visitors to experience the rhythms of Boone County life across more than a century of change.
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Gordon-Collins Log Cabin
Built around 1820 by Kentucky settler David Gordon, this hand-hewn log cabin reflects the realities of early frontier life. Furnished with authentic period tools and household items, the cabin shows how families built and sustained a home in a new land.
Originally used as temporary quarters while a larger home was constructed, as early as 1825 the cabin served as quarters for those enslaved by the Gordon family, and post-Civil War as housing for hired laborers. Inside, visitors encounter the implements of survival and self-sufficiency: looms, spinning wheels, candle molds, cookware, and the tools required to build a life from the ground up.
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Easley General Store
A replica of a beloved Boone County landmark, the Easley General Store offers a window into turn-of-the-century commerce and community. Stocked with typical goods from 100 years ago, the store even includes a small post office.
The original Easley Store was built in 1890 by William Greene Easley near a railstop and along the Missouri River in southern Boone County. The Easley family served their community for a full century. This reconstruction was created using historic photographs, detailed interviews, and portions of the original building, preserving both the structure and its story.
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McQuitty House
Built around 1910 on Garth Avenue in Columbia by Luther McQuitty, an African American contractor and realtor, this home represents the vernacular “shotgun” style of architecture.
Shotgun houses are long and narrow, typically three or four rooms arranged in a straight line with no hallway. The design earned its name from the saying that a shot fired through the front door could travel straight through to the back without hitting a wall. This house is one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Columbia and stands as a testament to Black craftsmanship and community in early 20th-century Boone County.
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Ryland House
The Ryland Farm House is a classic example of Late Victorian design influenced by the Eastlake style. Built around 1890 near Sturgeon, it reflects the home of a rural farm owner of modest means.
Nature-inspired details define the structure, from the sunrise motif in the gable to bird’s-eye trim around doors and windows, and carved branches and leaves in the doors. These decorative elements reveal how beauty and craftsmanship were woven into everyday life at the close of the 19th century.
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Locust Grove Baptist Church
Built in 1881, Locust Grove Baptist Church served as a place of worship and a gathering place for generations of Boone County families. Located on Thomas Hill Road near Sturgeon, the historic church hosted services, revival meetings, community dinners, weddings, funerals, and other gatherings until the congregation disbanded in 1953. The church and its story represent an important part of Boone County’s rural heritage and the communities that shaped our region. Soon, Locust Grove Baptist Church will find a new home at Boone History Village in Nifong Park, where it will be preserved, restored, and interpreted for future generations.
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Schedule A Tour!
Please submit a tour request form or call 573-443-8936 to schedule your tour.
- Boone Village tours are open April through October!
- Tours of these historic structures are available by appointment April 1 through October 31 each year.
- Cost: $6 per adult, $4 per child (12 and under)