Harlin Museum’s 2021 Ozark Heritage Exhibit to Feature Acclaimed Broadfoot Art Collection

The public’s opportunity to view the treasured Pioneers of the Ozarks collection of portraits and Ozarks’ landscapes created by historic Shannon County artist, L.L. Broadfoot, is happening now during the Ozark Heritage exhibit at the Harlin Museum. The annual exhibit opened earlier in the month in conjunction with the Old-Time Music & Ozark Heritage Festival and will be on display in the museum’s main gallery until June 27th.

The exhibit features the entire collection of cultural depictions of a by-gone Ozarks era and the individual portraits and complete character studies drawn or painted by Broadfoot and included in his book, Pioneers of the Ozarks, which was first published in 1944. Today, the book is in its’ fifth edition copy, having sold hundreds of copies around the world, and is still available for purchase through the Harlin Museum’s gift shop and website.

Due to the size of the original collection being so large (there are over 80 pieces to the Pioneers of the Ozarks part of the collection and over 200 pieces to the Broadfoot collection total), the gallery is only able to showcase the entire Pioneers-portion during this annual exhibit. As, over the years, the museum has been contacted by many individuals who claim to be either a descendant of the artist or a descendant of someone who sat for one of Broadfoot’s portraits and would like the chance to see the work in person, the Harlin encourages all those who wish to view the art to come stop in at the museum and take it in—in all its’ splendor of a time and a place almost forgotten to the ages.

Those who are interested in scheduling an individual or group tour can contact the museum at [email protected] or phone the museum directly at (417) 256-7801. The museum is currently open Friday, Saturday, & Sunday (12 pm – 4 pm).