Welcome to the Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives. If you will please sign the register, I'll give you a brief history of the Museum. By 1967, Judd Palmer, who had been very active in civic affairs, had amassed quite a large collection of Indian artifacts from this area, which he wanted to share with others. He appeared before the City Council with the suggestion that a museum be started to house these and any other articles which might be of historical interest. A charter was drawn up that year, and Sam Sherwood, a local realtor, was the first president. The collection was originally housed in the Hall of Waters. In 1968, the Clay County Bank erected a new building to house their business at the corner of Broadway and Thompson Avenue. They gave this building, except for the vault door, to be used as a museum. This is altogether fitting as this was the yard of the first hotel, The Excelsior. The hotel itself stood just east of here.

At the ends of this room are reproductions of two famous paintings - The Angeluis and The Gleaners. About 1919, Count Edmond deSzaak, who was stranded in our city, was commissioned to do these paintings. The Count was born in Budapest, Hungary. He studied art at some of the greatest educational and cultural centers of Europe, including Vienna, Paris, and Rome. The murals he painted in the Clay County State Bank are on canvas. They were never varnished over, consequently time has faded and dimmed the colors.

The ceiling of this room is also a beautiful thing.

Now we return to the front door of the museum. Here are two cornerstones taken from the white pavilions that had been erected on the site of the first, mineral springs discovered here, the Siloam. These were removed when the last pavilion was torn down to make way for the Hall of Waters. A Negro girl was healed of scrofulla by the mud found in the area.

In 1880, A. W. Wyman owned practically all of the land which now comprises the downtown area. The area had huge wheat fields. Rev. J. V. B. Flack sent samples to St. Louis to have it treated and it proved to be the strongest iron water in the world. Later Regent Spring was found to be even stronger. Rev. Flack, for whom the Christian Union Church is named, and Mr. Wyman, for whom the Wyman School was named, laid out and platted the first town. It was named Viginti, Missouri. They sold lots very cheaply to encourage settling and soon a tent city sprung up. The tent city was followed by more permanent structures. Rev. Flack had a dry goods store nearby. A hotel was erected to house visitors and other businesses followed. Several amusement places were also opened.

Next, we have the old mill stone which was presented by Mrs. Leone Ford Ross. This stone was from Seybold Mill. It stood on the old stage coach road, now know as Seybold Road. It is located at the south city limits. Unlike most mills of its time it was powered by mule or oxen, instead of water. The Seybolds also operated a tavern for the convenience of travelers. Jenny Lind, (the famous Swedish Nightingale, once gave a concert for the local citizens from the porch of the tavern, when she stopped there overnight. Some of the Mormons stopped there when they were routed from Liberty. Some died there from disease contracted at an earlier date. They were buried near the old tavern, but not in the Seybold family cemetery.

Souvenirs of past Excelsior are featured in the three large display cases. The Scott's Emulsion calendar dates back as early as 1894. Another artifact is the Bates and Wilcop calendar of 1908. D&S Produce and Grocery printed a weekly reminder, another featured display. Souvenirs also include a pitcher with painting of the area, a Battle Creek Baths' thermometer, and recently accessioned plates and bowls of Siloam Springs and Regent Springs.

Excelsior Springs was recognized as all All American in 1975. Displayed is the souvenir edition of The Daily Standard dated Monday, April 14, 1975.

Soterian Ginger Ale is exhibited. The ginger ale brought home gold medals in 1893 when it was sent to the World's Columbia Exposition held in Chicago.

Finally, the Elms Hotel display show menus of the past, dishes with the Elms tree, and souvenirs of the famous hotel. One item of interest is a picture of the Elms taken in 1888. The first Elms hotel burned in 1898. The second Elms burned in 1910. A big Saturday night dance was just over and the 160 guests lead gone to their rooms, but all escaped safely. The current Elms is a center of revitalization to the Olde Towne of Excelsior Springs.

At one time a bottling works stood south of the Elms Hotel stables along Lake Maurer road. One interesting drink was bottled there was Soterian Gingerale. In 1903, this gingerale was awarded a blue ribbon at the Chicago World's Fair. Only three men knew the formula for making this drink. They swore never to divulge the secret ingredients, and when the last of the three died, the secret died with them. Several of the mineral waters were also bottled here for shipment all over the world. The bottling works was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.

Sam Sherwood, who served as an aviator in WWI, donated his helmet, goggles and medals to the museum. At one time, he was very interested in starting a flying club in town.

Another collection of WWI army gear belonged to Lester Rowland and was given to the museum by his wife. The WWI phonograph was given by Pearl Frazier.

The Mineral Water Bowl display depicts the concern for the youth of this community. In the year of 1946, the late Glenn Lewis brought forth the idea of a (quarterback club) and lead the club in the production of the first mineral water bowl game in 1948. The game was played on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1948, between Excelsior Springs High School and Mexico High School. The first college bowl was played in 1954 and featured the College of Emporia and Castings College.

Railroads were very important to the history of Excelsior Springs. The Milwaukee Station display contains a replica of the Milwaukee Railroad and Station. The line was built in 1887 from Chicago to Kansas City. Later a line was added to the Pacific Railroad and the Rock Island line. The ladies' rest room was an addition in 1914. The station was a gathering place for local people when the train arrived. As many as twenty horse-drawn buggies and eighty horses have gathered around the depot. The railroad company allowed the caretakers to paint the building white. Trains ran between Excelsior Springs and Kansas City on the following schedules:

The collection of old newspapers here is extremely interesting. One even tells of Lincoln's death. The advertisements, as well as the news items, make them well worth studying.