Historical Society and Museum
Please join us for the opening of the Hummel Addition May 5, 2012.
The Warren County Historical Society was organized in 1970 for the purpose of preserving the history of Warren County. The Society is a not-for-profit corporation, and has the 501-C3 status through the Internal Revenue Service. The need for a facility in which to preserve and display the collection of items donated to the Society led to the construction of the Museum and Library. The construction was financed entirely by donations from present and former Warren Countians. In 2009, the Society received a bequest from R. Stuart Hummel of Sonoma, CA to be used for an addition to the Museum which will double the size of the building. Ground breaking for the new addition occurred in the spring of 2011.
The museum is free and open to the public. Hours beginning May 5th: Tuesdays from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Contact us about volunteer opportunities!
Early History of Warren County
Native Americans were the first settlers of the area. In the late 1700's the community of La Charrette was formed at the mouth of Charrette Creek on the Missouri River near present day Marthasville. At that time the area that later became Warren County was part of the St. Charles District of Upper Louisiana. In 1799 Daniel and Rebecca Boone and many members of their extended families left Kentucky and settled on the Missouri River. Rebecca's first cousin, David Bryan, acquired and settled on the Spanish land grant of Jeremiah Groshong in 1800. Daniel and Rebecca were buried in the cemetery on this land. Gottfried Duden lived near Dutzow between 1824 and 1827. His letters to Germany inspired the large German migration to this area. The letters have been published as Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America. After being part of St. Charles and Montgomery Counties in the Louisiana and Missouri Territories, Warren County was set apart by the State Legislature in 1833. Warrenton was established as the county seat in 1835.