Welcome to the Harlin Museum

The Harlin Museum is dedicated to preserving our Ozarks’ rich cultural heritage while also supporting the patronage of our innovative regional art scene.

We house items of cultural and historical interest significant to the area known as the Ozarks, which is located in the topographical region of the North American United States known as the Ozark Plateau. We also host a variety of competitive art shows, special historical exhibits, artisan workshops, and community events throughout the calendar year.

The Harlin Museum is located in West Plains, Missouri, the county seat of a mid-size, midwestern town in the center of southern MO known for its small-town charm, Historic Courthouse Square district, the nearby Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and the Mark Twain National Forest park system. 

The museum’s collection includes:

  • the Lennis L. Broadfoot collection; the most complete collection of art by the accomplished Shannon County, MO artist. Broadfoot is best known as the artist who immortalized the often enigmatic people, places, and traditions of the turn-of-the-century Ozarks region, in multiple mediums, while also offering a first-hand narrative in the writings that frequently accompanied his works.
  • artifacts of the area’s early settlers including a buckboard wagon w/ original harnesses and saddles sold at Aid’s Hardware on West Plains’ Historic Downtown Square, 
  • items significant to the area’s original Native American tribes 
  • military artifacts from WWI & the American Civil War; art depicting local skirmishes & photographs of local militia units
  • objects that survived the mysterious & tragic West Plains Dance Hall Explosion of 1928 and original newspaper coverage of the event
  • displays honoring area celebrities such as Missouri Sports Hall of Fame baseball player Preacher Roe, Country Music Hall of Fame’s singer/songwriter Porter Wagoner, and Grand Ole Opry star Jan Howard

 

 

 

Antique Phonograph, Hand-Woven Hand-Dyed Textiles, & the Broadfoot Collection on display for the annual Ozark Heritage exhibit.

A painting by Lennis Broadfoot depicting the Pioneer Ozarks of his time.

A Lost Arts: Basket-Weaving workshop in the Harlin’s lower-level classroom area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look at our MUSEUM NEWS page for the most recent goings-on at the museum, including announcements about upcoming art shows, regional history exhibits, show competitions, and instructional workshops.

Stop by the museum to browse items in our museum gift shop that include unique art, books (including copies of L.L. Broadfoot’s Pioneers of the Ozarks), jewelry, & stationary gifts or souvenirs. The gift shop area is located on the main level of the Hathcock Gallery.

And, remember, we also sell art! Competition show pieces listed for sale benefit both the artist and the museum, which keeps a small percentage of artists’ sales for museum maintenance and operation. The museum is a non-profit entity supported entirely by public donations and the sale of artist wares. If you would like to donate to the museum, please contact the docent desk at (417) 256-7801 or email us at [email protected].

Group tours are welcome; please contact the museum for more info.

The Boys & Girls Club of West Plains volunteers to help move an authentic johnboat during setup for the Welcome To The Wilderness exhibit at the museum.

 

The Hathcock Gallery addition was named after longtime museum board member & president, Roy Hathcock.

You can find the museum just off the historic downtown square on Worcester Ave., one of West Plains’ oldest streets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming 2024 Harlin Museum Event Calendar

 

Annual Fiber & Textile Arts Competition Show (Entry Dates: January 12th & 13th)

 

Annual High School Art Show Competition/Young Artist Showcase

(Entry Dates: February 16th & 17th)

 

Eclipse Invitational Multimedia Show

An Artistic View of The Light And The Dark in Honor of the April 8th, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

 

Ozark Heritage Exhibit featuring the L.L. Broadfoot Collection 

 

Harlin Museum’s 49th Annual Fall Art Show Competition

(Entry Dates: September 28th & 27th)

 

Our Ozarks In Art Multimedia Art Show (Entry Dates: October 25th & 26th)

 

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West Plains Model Railroad Club Holiday Train Display

For a more in-depth list of our upcoming events please visit our EVENT CALENDAR page.

#DiscoverYourOzarks #HarlinMuseum

You can also follow our Facebook Page for up-to-date museum info and art news at https://www.facebook.com/HarlinMuseumWP/