Welcome to the Iron County Historical Society

Since 1974, the Iron County Historical Society has been dedicated to preserving, protecting and sharing the rich history of Iron County, Missouri and its people. Through our museum, publications, programs and outreach, we can help you discover this rich history and help you with researching your own family's history. If you are already a member of the society, you can log-on by clicking on the Members Only link. If you are not already a member, we would encourage you to join us and help us to share our rich heritage with future generations. Check out our Coming Events page to keep up with the latest on upcoming historical society events and use our Blog page to get the very latest on historical society news, the latest information on changes to the website and information to assist you in researching your Iron County and other ancestors. We also invite you to visit us at our museum located in the Arcadia Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center in Arcadia. Our current hours are: Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 pm. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Miners in Front of Pilot Knob Iron Mine, 1919

October Quarterly Meeting - October 15th

We hope you can join us for our October Quarterly Meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 15th at the First Presbyterian Church of Ironton (corner of Knob and Reynolds streets in Ironton) when locally renowned Civil War historians and re-enactors Christopher and Twyla Warren along with their daughter Abbie will present their program, "Missouri's Forgotten Civil War Couple" detailing the lives of a lesser-known Civil War couple, Captain Thomas Macklind and his wife Louisa Volker Macklind who, together and separately did amazing things. Thomas helped design the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, served as an army officer and helped in the design and layout of the City of St. Louis streets and sidewalk system while Louisa worked as the army’s first female telegraph operator and as one of the first female doctors in Missouri.

Christopher holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Social Studies as well as a master’s degree in Civil War History. He’s been studying the American Civil War for over 30 years and has been a re-enactor for 28 years. Christopher is currently a teacher at the new Signet Christian School in Park Hills. Twyla Warren has been involved with various Civil War related activities since 2006, holds a bachelor’s degree and is the Co-founder and Past President of the Louisa Volcker Auxiliary #215—Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. She currently serves as their Secretary / Treasurer. Their daughter Abbie has been participating in since she was two months old in February 2014. She is quite the presenter in her own right, with her specialty being Civil War era toys and the role of children in the 1860s. Abbie is a 4th grade student at the Signet Christian School.