The Christian County Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Christian County, Missouri. It operates the Christian County Museum on donations only.

The Museum is located at 100 E Elm St, Ozark, MO 65721 on the historic Ozark Square and is currently open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

News

CHRISTIAN COUNTY BY-GONES—THE DANGERS OF CHILDHOODChildhood illnesses made survival precarious in earlier times. Two maladies that are now largely unknown, diphtheria and whooping cough, are contagious respiratory diseases that cause airway blockage. If diphtheria enters the bloodstream it can cause permanent kidney, brain, and nerve damage. It is especially dangerous for children, as it was for ten-year-old Nell Wallace, who died in October 1927. The local newspaper subsequently reported cases scattered throughout the county but urged people not to panic, and the county health officer closed the school and theater to limit contagion. A vaccine became available in the late 1920s, but diphtheria continued its toll until vaccination became widespread, claiming the life of Rodie Lou Wolf of Clever in December 1942, where five additional cases were reported in one day.Whooping cough (pertussis) is characterized by severe coughing spells and called “whooping cough” for the loud sound sufferers make gasping for breath after a coughing spell. It can cause airway blockage, pneumonia, seizures, and diseases of the brain. It, too, is particularly risky for young children, but Christian County adults also suffered from it. It was often accompanied by pneumonia and required several weeks of recovery. The Missouri Tuberculosis Association reported in 1947 that whooping cough caused more deaths in children under five than measles, diphtheria and scarlet fever combined. (From https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/symptoms/index.html. https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/signs-symptoms/index.html, Christian County Republican Oct 7, 1921, Dec 10, 1942, Oct 10, 1935, Feb 24, 1944, Mar 6, 1947) See MoreSee Less
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The museum will be closed today due to weather. ❄️ We hope to see you tomorrow! Stay safe! See MoreSee Less
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY BY-GONES—FOOTBALL IS IN THE AIR!(From The Billings Times Sept 10, 1942) See MoreSee Less
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY BY-GONES—GROUNDHOG DAY DINNER??(From The Billings Times Feb 2, 1950) See MoreSee Less
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Contact Us

Address: 100 E Elm St Ozark, MO 65721 on the south side of the Ozark Square

Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Admission is free.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 442 Ozark, MO

Email: christiancohistorical@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianCoHistorical/

Donations

The Christian County Museum runs entirely on the generosity of donors and volunteers. Below are ways you can help:

Donate Online: Make a donation with a credit card on Square.

Donate by Mail: Donations by check can be mailed to: P.O. Box 442 Ozark, MO, 65721 (Checks should be made payable to the Christian County Museum and Historical Society).

Donate a Historical Item: Please contact us directly to discuss material donations.

Volunteer: The museum and its events are run entirely by volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact us - we would love to work with you!

Membership

Support local history and the Christian County Museum -- join the Christian County Historical Society today! All levels of membership receive the Christian County Historian, our quarterly publication with fascinating articles on county history and announcements of upcoming events.

Membership levels


(To pay by check, please contact us.)