What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 10am - 2pm

SHSMO Center for Missouri Studies

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Columbia, MO
SHSMO Center for Missouri Studies

The Center for Missouri Studies is the administrative headquarters for the State Historical Society of Missouri.

It houses art and education galleries, a research center/library, a bookstore, and event rental spaces.

09/01/2026

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Will Murray, a longtime friend of the State Historical Society of Missouri who helped us acquire the papers of Lester B. Dent, the pulp fiction author of the Doc Savage novels. Murray died on August 25, 2026. As the acting literary agent for the Lester Dent estate, Murray carried on Dent’s legacy by continuing to publish Doc Savage novels based on Dent’s outlines under the name Kenneth Robeson, which was Dent’s pseudonym. He was also the co-creator of the Marvel superhero Squirrel Girl. Will Murray will be missed. For more about Will Murray’s life, please see his obituary: https://www.keohane.com/obituaries/william-murray.

01/05/2026

Senator Kit Bond in flight gear during a visit to McDonnel Douglas on October 19, 1987.

10/25/2025

In honor of National Cat Day pictured is Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond holding a kitten. The picture was taken on October 2, 1989, and can be found in his papers at SHSMO, C4657.

10/14/2025

Pictured is Senator Kit Bond in flight gear during a visit to McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri. The photo was taken on October 19, 1987, and can be found in the Kit Bond Papers located at the SHSMO, C4657.

10/07/2025

Pictured below is Tiger, the Bond family dog, while joining his family at the Christopher S. Bond bridge dedication in Kansas City, Missouri. The bridge dedication took place on September 27, 2010. The photo can be found in the born digital files at the SHSMO, C4657. The link to photo can be found below. C4657-bdf4-pi.pic.031_Tiger_100927 | SHSMO Born Digital Repository

10/03/2025

Along with the very heavy topics of his time, Bill Hungate also received every day and lighthearted mail, clippings, and recordings. One found in the collection, S0813, is this "Recipe for a wonderful day" which calls for ingredients such as "Friendly Words," "Understanding" and "Gentle Humor."

09/13/2025

Pictured below is Christopher “Kit” Bond with then President Ronald Reagan, Senator Jack Danforth, and Rep. Bill Emerson from Missouri at a campaign event in Springfield, Missouri in 1986. Kit Bond was running to replace U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton, who retired in 1987.

08/29/2025

Kit and Linda Bond presented with a plaque at the Parents as Teachers 25th anniversary Celebration on November 7, 2009 [Christopher “Kit” Bond Papers (C4657)]

07/22/2025

Kit Bond with Hank Williams Jr. at a McCain-Palin Rally on November 3, 2008 [Christopher “Kit” Bond Papers (C4657)]

07/16/2025

In 1996, a school aged boy from Kansas City, Kansas wrote to Senator Kit Bond and asked him where he got the name Kit. He pointed out that the cars name in the T.V. show Knightrider was Kit. The Senator responded explaining that Kit was short for Christopher and that his parents called him that as a child and it stuck, even though at times he would have preferred to be called by Christopher.

Address

605 Elm Street
Columbia, MO
65201

Opening Hours

Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	10am - 2pm

Website

https://shsmo.org/the-center

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