February 03, 2021

Celebrate Black History Month with the History Museum on the Square in Downtown Springfield!

USA Today’s 2019 Best New Attraction hosts a free program Saturday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m. in the historic Fox Theatre. Join them in person or virtually as they feature the newly-created African American Heritage Trunk. Registration is required.

The trunk is the newest addition to the History Museum on the Square’s Educational Trunk Program. This program offers schools and community organizations the opportunity to rent educational trunks covering different themes pertaining to Springfield and Greene County history. Inside each of the trunks are artifacts, replicas and educational resources that promote a hands-on approach to learning about history.

With the help of local African American leaders who serve on the museum’s African American  Heritage Advisory Board, the museum has created an educational trunk and program that appropriately and thoughtfully address the African American heritage of southwest Missouri. Board members include:

• Gwen Marshall, Springfield Public Schools Equity and Diversity Specialist
• Clarence Brewer, artist and musician
• Toni Robinson, President of the Springfield NAACP
• Wes Pratt, Missouri State University Chief Diversity Officer
• Cheryl Clay, former President of the Springfield NAACP
• Father Moses Berry, priest at the Orthodox Church in America and Curator of the Ozarks Afro-American Heritage Museum

The trunk and program are made possible by grant funding from the Missouri Humanity Council’s African American Heritage Grant Program.

The African American Heritage Trunk program will be added to the Field Trip Friday rotation. These Field Trips are every Friday at 2:00 pm and free with registration thanks to the Darr Family Foundation.