Missouri Historical Society

The Missouri Historical Society is a nonprofit cultural institution founded on August 11, 1866, that preserves, interprets and makes accessible the history of the St. Louis region. Its work spans museum collections curation and preservation, archival research and library services, exhibit design and development, public history and interpretation, educational programming and community engagement. The organisation describes itself as one of the oldest, largest and most-visited history organisations in the United States, and as a civic leader in the St. Louis region.

MHS operates three locations in St. Louis. The Missouri History Museum, at 5700 Lindell Blvd in Forest Park, presents exhibits on St. Louis and Missouri history. Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, in downtown St. Louis, is dedicated to military history and to honouring those who served. The Library and Research Center, at 225 S Skinker Blvd, provides access to the society's collections, archives and research resources. Together these sites hold more than 179,000 artifacts representing more than 1m years of history.

The society's permanent galleries are undergoing a major transformation intended to reinvent the exhibition space and share more of the collection than before. Alongside its exhibits, MHS runs educational and community programs designed to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to a shared past. Its stated orientation is mission-driven: making history meaningful and accessible, with an emphasis on diversity and community inclusion, and helping audiences understand the present and plan for the future.