The South Howard County Historical Society runs a museum on Broadway in New Franklin. The town calls itself the start of the Santa Fe Trail.
Highlights
- Open: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., April through October. Other times by appointment: call 660-621-2836.
- Nearby history: the Santa Fe Trail monument where the Katy Trail crosses Route 5, “The Rock” in the middle of Broadway, and markers on Highway 87 for old Franklin, home of the Missouri Intelligencer.
Call before you go. Hours are seasonal and run by volunteers, so call first, especially outside April through October.
Hours from the City of New Franklin’s website; address from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s heritage directory. Checked Oct. 30, 2026.