Step Into History: Discover Callaway County’s Past & Present
Photo by Notley Hawkins
Take a journey through the colorful history, legends, and larger-than-life people who have shaped Callaway County into a fascinating place more than 200 years in the making.
Early beginnings.
Long before Missouri became a state, the Osage and other Native American peoples lived on this land. In 1820, the county was officially organized and named after Captain James Callaway—grandson of the legendary explorer Daniel Boone. You can’t get much more American than that.
The Civil War and the “Kingdom of Callaway.”
Though Missouri sided with the Union, Confederate sympathies ran strong in Callaway County. The story of how this tension played out is preserved at the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society Museum in Fulton, where you’ll also learn how the county earned its enduring nickname, “The Kingdom of Callaway.”
Photo by Notley Hawkins
Churchill’s legacy in Fulton.
One of the crown jewels of Callaway history is America’s National Churchill Museum, located on the Westminster College campus in Fulton. It was here that in 1946, invited by President Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill delivered his world-shaping “Iron Curtain” speech. The museum was built in 1969 beneath the beautifully restored Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, and later added Breakthrough, a striking sculpture created from sections of the Berlin Wall by Churchill’s granddaughter, Edwina Sandys.
Historic downtown charm.
Step into the past in the Downtown Fulton Historic District—better known as The Brick District—where 19th- and early 20th-century buildings line brick streets. It’s the perfect place to shop, dine, or catch a show at the Brick District Playhouse while soaking in the historic atmosphere.
Memorials and moments.
In Kingdom City (just a short drive from Fulton), the Firefighters Memorial pays tribute to Missouri’s bravest. When the statue originally commissioned for the site was instead donated to New York City after the events of September 11, 2001, a second was created and dedicated the following year, ensuring that Callaway has its own place of remembrance and honor.
Photo by Notley Hawkins
History with a twist.
For a lighter look at the past, visit Crane’s Museum at Crane’s Country Store in Williamsburg, where shelves brim with nostalgia. Or head just north of Fulton to Auto World Museum, where 70 rare and vintage vehicles are displayed against historic scenes and nearly life-size building facades.
Whether you’re a devoted history buff or just a casual curious traveler, Callaway County offers countless ways to indulge your love of the past. Take your time exploring—you’ll find the stories here are as unforgettable as the people who lived them.