Welcome to A Driving Tour of Sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Warrensburg and Johnson County Missouri

You may also view the tour stops on a map

Start the tour at the Warrensburg Depot (Holden Street at the Railroad Tracks)

Go south on Holden Street 2 blocks, right on Madison street 2 blocks.

Stop 1, 1899 Warren Street M.E. Church, Warren & Madison Streets. Church is now closed and for sale. For information about the church, contact the First Methodist Church in Warrensburg. (Architecture, Ethnic Heritage: Black)

Turn Right on Warren St. across tracks to Pine Street. Right on Pine 2 blocks to Holden. Left on Holden 2 blocks to:

Stop 2, 1898 Johnson County Courthouse. The Courthouse is open daily for public business, with historic information available at the County Clerk's office, (660)747-6161. (Architecture, Politics/Government)

Stop 2a, 1894 Masonic Temple. Immediately east of the Courthouse across Holden Street, now restored and occupied by shops and offices. Not open for tours. (Social History)

Continue north on Holden Street across US-50 overpass about 2 miles. On your right, you'll see

Stop 3, 1928 Garden of Eden (Ben Pickel) Gas Station, old Missouri 13 North. Early gas station rendered in local sandstone. Only a drive-by observation of site - no tour. (Architecture, Commerce)

Return south on Holden Street to Gay St. (2nd 4 way stop). Turn right (east); 2 blocks on your left at the southeast corner of Warren & Gay is

Stop 4, 1888 Herbert A. & Bettie E. Cress House, 222 W. Gay. Only a drive-by observation of site - no tour. (Architecture)

Turn left on Warren Street two blocks to Culton Street. Turn right on Culton Street 1 block to

Stop 5, Howard School. This building is the the second oldest remaining black school established under the Freedman's Bureau after the Civil War. The building, second on the site, dates from the 1880s. It is under restoration.

Continue west on Culton Street to top of hill. Turn right on Main St. On your left, you'll see

Stop 6, 1842-1878 Old Johnson County Courthouse (restored to ca.1870 appearance). Tours available by contacting Mary Miller Smiser Heritage Library & Museum, 304 N. Main St., (660)747-6480. The Old Courthouse is part of the Johnson County Historical Society's museum complex & was the site of the famous Old Drum trial in 1870 and a political gunfight in 1861. Hours: Mon. - Frit. 1-4 PM; $3 admission. (Architecture, Political)

Continue north to Young St. (Business 50). Turn left on Young St. to U.S. 50. Go west 5 miles on U.S. 50 to MO 58. Follow MO 58 14 miles to Holden. Turn South on MO 131 about 4 miles to:

Stop 7, 1915-1949 Pleasant View School, 674 SW MO Hwy 131 (Medford area). Illustrates architectural & educational design of a well-preserved country school.

Continue south on MO-131 about 4 miles to MO-2. East on MO-2 10 miles to Chilhowee. Turn right on Main Street to:

Stop 8, 1904-1930 Chilhowee Historic District. This is the old Chilhowee business district, about 1 block long at Walnut & Main Streets. (Architecture, Commerce, Agriculture)

Return to MO-2 and turn east (right) to MO-13. Turn left (north) on MO-13 about 8 mile to Rt. Y. Turn right (east) on Y 4.0 miles to

Stop 9, 1867-1895 John A. Adams Farmstead Historic District, 431 SE County Road Y. Tours available by appointment; call (660)747-5728. Farm history is available at this site. (Architecture, Agriculture - Drainage System & Architecture)

Continue east on Rt. Y 6.3 miles to MO-23. Turn left (north) 5 miles on MO-23, which passes by the west side of Whiteman Air Force Base (watch for the Stealth bomber flying by!) to Rt. DD. Turn left (west) on DD for about 1/4 mi to a park entrance road. Turn right on the entrance road and follow it to the Visitor Center at

Stop 10, Knob Noster State Park, the Montserrat Recreation Demonstration Area, with 5 sites & one historic district depicting Depression era ECW architecture in Missouri State Parks. These include: Sites - Bridge, Dam Spillway, Entrance Portal, Rock Bathhouse, Warehouse #2 Workshop. Historic District - Camp Shawnee. Phone Visitor's Center for Park information and map: (660)563-2463. (Depression Era Architecture)

Return to Rt. DD, head west to Warrensburg. Thanks for sharing our Johnson County History.