Dedicated to Preserving History

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Founding of the Camden County Historical Society and Museum

The Outstanding County Museum at the Lake of the Ozarks

At the June 1962 meeting of the Linn Creek School Alumni there was some discussion about the need for an Historical Society to Preserve the history of the county. Much interest was shown and most of the alumni agreed that we should preserve our heritage. This was how the Camden County Historical Society was born. On June 14, 1962, about thirty people met in the circuit court room of the Camden County court House for the purpose of forming a society for the preserving the history of the county. It was agreed that the past history should be preserved for the present and future generations. All historical data, records, pictures and other historical memorabilia should be collected and be displayed as soon as possible.

Committees were formed and a charter written.

At first the Historical Society met at the Court House in Camdenton and then in the basement of the Episcopal Church. Then they were able to obtain the lower floor of the Odd Fellows Hall in Linn Creek.

Then in 1998 Geraldine Esther Schrimsher, Joyce Esther Clark, and Winston O. Esther deeded the right to the land and the old Linn Creek School Building to the Camden County Historical Society for use as a museum. A resolution recognizing the donation was signed by the Camden County Historical Society and presented to the family. Currently the family is having the dedication reframed and restored and will be displayed at the museum in April 2008.

The Historical Society now meets regularly in their permanent home. A large collection of pioneer tools and equipment of all kinds are on display. The archives have many interesting historical articles and also genealogies of some of the old families of the county. There are many interesting pictures of Old Linn Creek, and other places of days gone by. The Museum is staffed and maintained by unpaid volunteers from the Historical Society. The museum is free to visitors but will gratefully accept donations.

Today the Historical Society meets on the third Monday of each month, March through October at the Museum which is located at the junction of Highway 54 and V Roads in Linn Creek, Missouri. The evening opens with a pot luck supper followed by the speaker for the evening and a short business meeting.