Stories in Stone
Join us April 10-11, 2021, at the graveside of some of Chillicothe’s most prominent historical figures. Lisa Rule, Drama teacher at the Chillicothe High School, is bringing back the City Stage actors’ troupe to tell the stories of important local figures. This walking tour of Edgewood Cemetery will feature costumed actors who will narrate about a dozen stories from people who died before 1945. This program promotes a deeper understanding of Chillicothe’s past. It is open to the public and steep hills are avoided; most areas are near the paved cemetery road.
Bethel Black History Museum
The restored and re-purposed Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church circa: 1868; an historic building in its own right was moved to the Grand River Historical Museum in 2018. Placed on a new basement and will be opened in February of 2021 as the Bethel Black History Museum. The Museum will trace Black history from Slavery to the present exhibiting artifacts and telling the stories of the Black families who contributed so much to the Grand River region of Northwest Missouri. There will also be an extended exhibit on the Underground Railroad.
What Were You? A Bicentennial Exhibit
“What Were You?” this Bicentennial Exhibit asks with special exhibits throughout the Museum. What were you driving? What were you eating? What were you wearing? What were you listening to? Where were you living? What did your community look like in 1821, 1921, and 2021? The Grand River Historical Society Museum will show through exhibits how culture, society, has changed over time from the founding of the State of Missouri in 1821 to the present.
Main Street Chillicothe Wine Walk
Main Street Chillicothe hosts two downtown Wine Walks per year. May and October–this year those will be held on May 14, 2021 and Friday, October 8, 2021, both starting at 4 p.m. The wine walks are an opportunity to taste different Missouri wines that are available inside participating stores. These Walks also afford people the opportunity to look at the beauty of our historical shops, as well as the murals that are downtown. Each mural is representative of the History of Chillicothe.
Seniors on Tour
May 20, 2021 at 10am, “Seniors on Tour” will take senior citizens on a walking tour of Downtown Main Street Chillicothe. They will learn of the history of our historical businesses, as well as view some of the murals we have in our downtown Chillicothe. This will promote a better understanding of Chillicothe’s past and present. “Seniors on Tour” is open to all senior citizens. For more information, please visit www.downtownchilli.com.
Chillicothe Downtown Historical Walking Tour
Tour and discover downtown Chillicothe! The history of twenty-three buildings in downtown Chillicothe has been researched and put online to share with the public. The research includes maps, pictures, city directories, newspaper articles and ads, and other sources. Each building can be accessed via a QR code. Read, see, and experience Chillicothe’s history. The tour begins at the Ben Bolt and winds its way south and east, but visitors can begin the tour wherever they see a QR code. Rack cards will also be available at various places with the information and a QR code to the home page. A hard copy of the tour will also be made available.
This project was made possible by the cooperative efforts of the Livingston County Library, Main Street Chillicothe, and the Grand River Museum.
Chillicothe Hall of Fame
The Chillicothe Hall of Fame connects the people of Chillicothe’s historic past to the community’s present and future. Current Hall of Fame members include Charles Frank Adams, Frank Bench, Olive Rambo Cook, and most recently, Maurice Dorney. These Chillicothe Hall of Famers were creative, adventuresome, visionary, entrepreneurial, community-minded, and lived their lives as examples for us to follow.
The Chillicothe Hall of Fame Traveling Exhibit will feature mounted and lighted 3-D laser-engraved crystal “trophy”-type awards with biographies for each Hall of Fame member, and these will be displayed at various public and commercial locations throughout Chillicothe for 30-day periods.
The Chillicothe Hall of Fame is a project of the, Livingston County Preservation Society, Chillicothe Historic Preservation Commission, and Main Street Chillicothe.