Lamar Missouri Historical Tour

Curated by University of Central Missouri Department of History, Anna Furney, with funding from the Missouri Humanities Council

In the southwest corner of Missouri, bordering Kansas, lies Barton County. The county was created out of land from Jasper County in December 1855. Its namesake is for David Barton, who had served as presiding president of the Missouri Constitutional Convention of 1820, and as a U.S. senator from 1820-1831.

Within Barton County resides a small town called Lamar. Formed out of Osage Indian lands, this town is best known for being the birthplace of President Harry S. Truman. Serving as the 33rd president of the United States, Truman was the only person from Missouri to serve as president.

While it is a great honor that a future president was born there, Lamar has so much more history to offer a visitor. Founded in 1856 by George E. Ward and Joseph C. Parry, the town was named after Mirabeau Lamar, second President of Texas, who was a friend of George Ward. From cowboys like Wyatt Earp, to a magnificent Golden Age theater, to Civil War cannons, Lamar has a significant history to offer all who visit.

Lamar Missouri Tour

Around 10 miles outside of the Lamar downtown square sits a local burial ground named Howell Cemetery. It is set in a wide-open scenery complete with trees and a beautiful entrance gate. The founding date is unknown, though it can be inferred that…

Lamar Missouri Tour

The Civil War in Missouri was full of chaos and disorder, especially around the counties bordering Kansas. As Barton County fits this description, it was not immune to skirmishes and many of its men taking up arms. Missouri did not secede from the…

Lamar Missouri Tour

Wyatt Earp is perhaps one of the most famous American cowboys of all time. His life and legendary service as a lawman have been depicted in a variety of films and books. He is most known for participating in the shootout at O.K. Corral and for…

Lamar Missouri Historical Tour

In the southwest corner of Missouri, bordering Kansas, lies Barton County. The county was created out of land from Jasper County in December 1855. Its namesake is for David Barton, who had served as presiding president of the Missouri Constitutional…

Lamar Missouri Tour

This one and a half story house was the site of Harry S. Truman’s birth. As 33rd president of the United States, this home shows his humble beginnings. Although he did not grow up in this house, Harry Truman’s experienced his first moments on earth…

Lamar Missouri Tour

The Plaza Theater, opened in 1934, arrived during the Golden Age of Hollywood. This was the period of film when ‘talkies’ were gaining popularity, and stars such as Fred Astaire, Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, and Mary Pickford…

Lamar Missouri Tour

In the 19th century, the Diocese of Kansas City sent priests into many Missouri southern towns, to establish new parishes. The parish that was founded in Lamar became known as St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Its congregation finally had an official…

Lamar Missouri Tour

Upon its founding in 1856, Lamar was already chosen to serve as county seat of Barton County. Its downtown area was laid out in a 400-foot square, and its first courthouse was built there. Although records of the first courthouse were destroyed in a…

Lamar Missouri Tour

Americans were encouraged to exercise their love of freedom and democracy during the Cold War, which resulted in many new monuments being erected across the country. One such memorial that was heavily replicated was the Statue of Liberty. The Statue…