This hodge-podge of exhibits has a slim theme of being a collection of items donated by folks…read moreassociated with or having an Ozarks interest. The museum is named after a Missouri radio and TV pioneer who operated out of nearby Springfield. So, there's a room dedicated to Ralph Foster and his broadcast achievements. Adjacent is a room covering his most popular Grand Ol' Opry style show and the country music stars who visited it. The TV Clampett's 1921 Oldsmobile truck from the Beverly Hillbillies has central placement on the first floor; the series creator was from the area. Famous Missourian and artist Thomas Hart Benton has an exhibit space of his landscapes. The second floor largely contains guns and taxidermic works of animals from around the world--both donated collections. Famed entertainer Andy Williams has a small exhibit of his Christmas sweaters due to his long-time residency in Branson. There's also space devoted to the history of College of the Ozarks. And so it goes. While some exhibits are exhaustively detailed, others--particularly the animals--have cursory descriptions. A beautiful exhibit of hundreds of mounted birds includes only the name of each, with some names so jumbled together it's confusing which bird is which. The animal descriptions are lightly proofread Encarta notes--a digital encyclopedia discontinued before 2010. The museum, however, offers a good diversion and you can easily spend a couple of hours here. It's well worth the low light entry expense, which will particularly appeal to families and seniors.

This was such an incredibly cool hidden gem! This museum has it all, including the Beverly…read moreHillbillies car, thousands of amazing old artifacts from the Ozarks and around the world (some from Biblical times), the biggest collection of weapons I've ever seen, incredible animal exhibits, and many other items. The staff were also wonderful: they are college students who work during the summer to pay for their room and board. During the school year, students work 15 hours per week to pay their tuition, so it's called Hard Work U. It's a must-see place; you won't be disappointed.

Nice museum with great people working there! I would highly recommend seeing when you are in the…read morearea!

Went to the museum during operating hours and the door was locked. No answer when I called and no…read morereturn phone call when I left a voicemail. Thats very disappointing for my children that I tried to take there.

This is a really interesting and well-displayed view of Springfield's past. Multiple floors…read more Excellent docents to whom you can ask endless questions.

From the owner: The History Museum on the Square is committed to building and preserving an extensive collection of…read morehistorical documents and artifacts, as we share stories of the crossroads to engage, educate, and inspire our diverse audience. We strengthen our community’s future by learning about our past and our culture. The Museum is located on the original square of Springfield, MO. Enjoy 5 floors of interactive and engaging exhibits that share the stories of Springfield and Greene County, Missouri.

So, perhaps I'm a bit biased because we have the coolest Kid Museum at my home in Washington State…read more(Everett, to be precise), but my family found the Museum to be kind of meh. But, the front desk lady was dellightful and extremely personable. The thing that really stood out in epic-ocity was the bee exhibit. My granddaughter absolutely loved it. Everything else was kinda lackluster. However, honorable mention definitely goes to the Bed of Nails exhibit. It was a true bed of nails, with a pillow provided for comfort!! In conclusion, if you happen to be in Springfield, MO, give this place a visit. Otherwise, don't bother making a special trip, you could be disappointed.

Such a neat place. Every interaction with staff was positive! Yes some attractions could be updated…read moreor use some work, but overall this place is amazing. So many things for all ages.

This is a small natural science museum that offers free admission and a scavenger hunt activity and…read morea small play area for little ones. It was a nice addition to a weekday afternoon with my granddaughter while she's enjoying her summer vacation. The museum is small but interesting and you can be as quick or leisurely as you like. They have an open museum gift shop with books, t shirts, toys, beautiful stones, crystals from the cave and other items. And there's "Henry". Go see.

Staff was very welcoming upon arrival. Was able to walk the exhibits and learn a few things…read more Shopped the gift area with out feeling pressured to purchase a thing. Then we took a short walk to the rock formations to look for fossils this was fun for both my husband and I. We came home and were more than happy to tell our friends and family about our experience.

I am fascinated by museums large or small. The Fort Leonard Museum did NOT disappoint. I was…read moreimpressed by the thoughtfulness of the historical displays and the information they provided. Going through the museum I was overwhelmed by the history our nation has experienced in the past century and this century. Part of me wanted to read every display and look at every detail. Time was brief though. This was my second visit to this museum. There are three different areas in this museum: The military police, chemical, and engineer museum. There are three gift stores inside, and they were full of items I could not get outside of the base in most stores except online. I got post cards of the crossing pistols, a giant hoodie jacket, and tee with the crossing pistols.

What a great experience to see and be in one of the many places Laura Ingalls Wilder resided. The…read moremuseum is very well done and the grounds are well taken care of. A must see.

We were passing through and thought it would be worth checking out. It's Laura's…read morehouse where she wrote the books is not to be confused with the house from the TV series, which was in Minnesota. Put it this way, the Ingalls and eventually Ingalls Wilder family moved a lot: Wisconsin; Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, and finally, Missouri. We arrived after 4, and they closed at 5; so we checked out the gift shop and walked over to the big white house. Also, we noticed some ticks after we returned to our vehicle. They appeared to be deer ticks, which are known to carry Lyme disease. On a side note, all of the merchandise is moderately priced. Definitely worth the stop.

Very cool place! The entry fee is $15 per person and $13 for seniors which seems like a lot but…read moregood for a one time visit. Super cool vintage cars, gas pumps, and a jukebox (nothing can be touched). We took about an hour to read through it all - photos and videos are also allowed. Lots of parking spaces and the outside sign is cool. Friendly staff and an okay size gift shop too. Decently built overall.

Thank you so much for letting us stay there. Great harvest…read morehost stay. Enjoyed the diner, The food was great. The car museum amazing Love love those old cars!!!