Exhibitions

This new exhibition stages a dialogue across time regarding the representation of Native American people. The first section begins with 36 lithographic portraits from McKenney and Hall’s History of the Indian Tribes of North America (1836-1844). Created by Euro-American artists, these images reflect the traditions and biases of Western art, while also documenting encounters in which Native sitters had some control over their self-presentation.

In celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence, SHSMO is presenting a small exhibit in the William Guitar Little Missouri Gallery of Art. The exhibit showcases the art collections portrait of Thomas Jefferson by George Caleb Bingham, as well as three documents from the Christian J. Bay collection at SHSMO. On display include a 1792 letter from Jefferson when he was Secretary of State under President George Washington, an 1804 ships passport signed by both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and a document signed by John Hancock. 

American illustrator, artist, and writer Rose O’Neill (creator of the Kewpie comic character) and Boone County artist and illustrator Gladys Wheat were two extraordinary women artist illustrators who spent a significant part of their creative lives in Missouri. During the early 20th century, both overcame the pervasive sexism of their era, helping to pave the way for the success of today’s talented women artists.

Coming in 2026 to a location near you! SHSMO’s new traveling exhibition, Missouri’s Main Street: 100 Years of Route 66 will spend a month at different locations near the historic road in Missouri. In addition, it will make some appearances at special events like the Route 66 National Kickoff in Springfield and the Missouri State Fair.

Join the State Historical Society of Missouri as we begin our year-long celebration of the centennial of the legendary Route 66! Missouri comprises just over 300 of the more than 2000 miles of historic Route 66. As the birthplace of the iconic highway, however, Missouri's contributions to the road’s development and history far surpass its size.

Our gallery space includes a permanent exhibition of ten large World War II paintings created by Thomas Hart Benton between 1941 and 1943. These images reflect the anxiety, horror, grief, and resolve that Benton and his audience experienced after the U.S. entered WW II on December 7, 1941. Benton responded to the national crisis with a series of nightmarish visions of war, eight of which were purchased by Abbott Laboratories and exhibited in New York City in 1942.

Our permanent exhibition of works by George Caleb Bingham includes the monumental 1869/70 Civil War painting, Gen. Order No. 11, which represents the execution of a military directive evacuating civilians in four Missouri border counties.

Greta Kempton's Portrait of the Truman Family (President Harry S. Truman, Elizabeth “Bess” Truman and their daughter Mary Margaret) is on permanent exhibition at SHSMO. The triple portrait was commissioned for the State Historical Society of Missouri with left-over funds raised by Missouri Democrats for Truman’s 1948 inaugural celebration. The painting was officially presented to the Society in 1952.