Liberty, MO’s Clay County Museum: historic treasures hiding in plain sight

Most visitors to the Historic Square in Liberty, MO, walk past the old museum building at 14 Main St., unaware of the treasures of local history housed inside. Many stop to admire the window decor-ations created by a dedicated team of volunteers depicting various themes and changed periodically. A block on the side of the building indicates its origins to be 1877 – but that was the date of the building’s remodeling, after a fire damaged the original 1850s structure.
For most of its life, the building served as a drug-store, beginning in 1856 with the first druggist, W.A. Hall. Daniel Hughes Jr. partnered with Hall in 1870, bought him out in 1873 and remodeled the building four years later. In 1877 he sold the building to Joseph C. Simmons, whose name remains on the entry tiles.

Simmons installed a soda fountain just inside the front doors, but discovered it was more work than reward, and replaced it with a candy stand. Today the original soda fountain’s stools can be seen, and the candy stand has become a gift shop with a large variety of books featuring area history.

Dr. William H. Goodson practiced medicine on the second floor for 64 years. When he died in 1963, his office was preserved as it had been in 1920, with his original medical equipment, including many instruments the doctor fashioned by hand. It remains a popular visitor attraction.

The Clay County Museum Association bought the building in 1964. Today it is filled with historical artifacts from throughout the county. Its three floors preserve the memories of those who visited the doctor, bought penny candy or just stopped in to chat with the druggist around the old pot-bellied stove in the back room.

Artifacts include arrow points from area Native Americans, military items from the Civil War and both world wars, old appliances, musical instruments, toys, historic photos, posters, and much more. A rare harp piano can be seen on the second floor, along with a doll collection, period furniture, old documents, and other fascinating items. The lower level displays include a diorama featuring workers assembling stained glass in an early-day factory, an old-time loom, farm equipment, and a variety of interesting household items.

Visitors are greeted on the first floor by a centuries-old Spanish cannon from the Phillipines that once graced the old Court House lawn. In addition to a piano purchased in New York and brought to Clay County in the 1850s on a steamboat, visitors can see old toys, telephones, early-day costumes and countless other items to whet the appetite of any history enthusiast.

Closed in January, the museum reopens in February. Admission is free (with cash donations gladly accepted). Hours are 1-4 Monday – Friday and 10-4 Saturdays. For more information, visit www.claycountyhistoricalsocietymuseum.org.