Story By: Rachel Gough
Photos By: Hannah Montgomery
St. Joseph, Missouri is a town that is very high in culture and rich in history.
Located in St. Joseph are two museum locations at 3406 Fredrick Ave. and 1100 Charles St.. Each location houses several different exhibits and events each month in order to bring in new customers.
The first location houses the Glore Psychiatric Museum, St. Joseph Museum, Black Archives Museum and the Doll Museum. Four great museums, all in one convenient location for one set admission price.
The hours for this museum are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday’s from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. The admission price is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for students and free for children under the age of six.
“The cost is so cheap, that it makes a great date for students on a budget,” Holly McLeerson said, a resident from the St. Joseph area.
The museum provides guided tours for group rates and any members who are interested in an adult tour. For a tour, groups will have to call in advance to insure availability.
“The Wyeth Tootle Mansion Museum is another great piece of history for Saint Joseph, Missouri,” Jennie Schwabe said, a student from Missouri Western State University.
This museum is only open by appointment for our groups, rentals and special occasions until April 2016 when regular weekend hours will resume.
“The Glore Psychiatric Museum is one that will blow your mind to visit,” Will Allen said.
The museum has an exhibit that includes 453 nails that a patient from St. Joseph’s State Lunatic Asylum No. 2 swallowed. This and many other exhibits have given the museum several winning awards because of the 130-year history of the state hospital and centuries of mental health treatment.
The St. Joseph Museum includes everything from Civil War artifacts to intricate Native American pottery and rare dolls. The museum started in 1927 as the Children’s Museum of St. Joseph and eventually turned into the unfolding story which it is today.
The museum includes an extensive collection of Native American items from 10 cultural regions of North America, which include: clothing, accessories, fans, pottery, pipes, weapons, kachinas, jewelry and archaeological items.
The Black Archives Museum sheds light on the achievements and contributions of Saint Joseph, Missouri’s African American residents throughout history. The museum was founded in 1991 by Jewell Robinson who was a former teacher at Bartlett High School in Saint Joseph.
The Society of Memories Doll Museum began in 1968. This started with the purchase of five dolls from the Estate of Orrel Andrews, founder of the St. Joseph Museum. Over the years, the museum has collected over 1,500 dolls, toys and dollhouses.
The Wyeth Tootle Mansion is a fine representation of the beautiful mansions build around the turn of the century in St. Joseph, Missouri. The mansion has three floors, a tower, and more than 40 rooms. Today, it is known as one of the best examples of the areas 19th century wealth.