Creating Community: Jews in Springfield - Opening Week

Name: Creating Community: Jews in Springfield - Opening Week
Start: 2025-02-05T10:00:00-06:00
Location: 154 Park Central Sq, Springfield, MO, United States, Missouri 65806

Schedule

Wed, 05 Feb, 2025 at 10:00 am

UTC-06:00

Location

154 Park Central Sq, Springfield, MO, United States, Missouri 65806 | Springfield, MO

The History Museum on the Square is proud to announce the opening of its newest temporary exhibit, Creating Community: Jews of Springfield. This captivating exhibit delves into the rich history and contributions of Springfield’s Jewish community, tracing their journey from the 1860s to today. The exhibit is open to the public from February 5, 2024 through May 2025. Exhibit admission is included in regular museum admission.
Creating Community: Jews of Springfield sheds light on the arrival of the first Jewish settlers in Springfield during the 1860s. These early settlers, driven by opportunities in commerce, trade, and community building, laid the groundwork for a vibrant, tight-knit community that has continued to be an integral part of Springfield’s fabric.
"Guests will explore the histories of Springfield’s Jewish community, from the early settlers who helped shape the city’s identity to their ongoing contributions of today," said Sean FitzGibbons, Executive Director of the History Museum on the Square. "This exhibit honors our Jewish neighbors, friends, and family. Collaborating with such a talented and passionate group of partners was a privilege, and we’re excited to share these impactful stories with our visitors."
The History Museum on the Square would like to thank local historian Dr. Mara W. Cohen Ioannides for her invaluable research and consultation. Dr. Cohen Ioannides’ book, Creating Communities: Jews of Springfield, served as a key inspiration for this exhibit.
"It is so very important that organizations, like The History Museum on the Square, highlight the varied backgrounds of Springfieldians." said Dr. Mara W. Cohen Ioannides, Consulting Historian for this exhibit. "I was honored to facilitate the museum's borrowing of artifacts from both the synagogue and the congregants and to work closely with museum staff on the exhibit's written material."
Special thanks also go to Temple Israel, the Temple Israel Sisterhood, and Missouri State University’s Special Collections & Archives for their generous partnership and support in bringing this exhibit to life.
For more information, please visit us at historymuseumonthesquare.org or email Sean FitzGibbons, Executive Director at [email protected].