West Plains Arts and Culture

Avenue Theatre

The Avenue Theatre, a neo-art deco movie house built in 1950, operated until 1986. It was then donated to Arts on the Avenue, Inc., a non-profit arts organization formed to convert the facility into a community theater. It hosts a variety of programs including a children's program during the summer.

307 Washington Avenue, West Plains, MO 65775
(417) 256-4420

The Harlin Museum is a repository for both the area's past and present. About 200 sketches and paintings by artist L.L. Broadfoot have returned to the Ozarks among the people and scenery that inspired them. The works contain visual depictions of old-time Ozarkers and written documentation of their lives. Broadfoot offers vignettes about them, making his work truly wonderful. This collection was donated to the Harlin Museum where it will be on public display with Broadfoot's notes alongside his artwork.

A portion of the museum was once the home of James P. Harlin, West Plains' mayor for 32 years. It has been preserved, along with period furniture as a monument to the era in which he lived. The museum's modern wing has two floors, with the upper devoted to touring art exhibitions and the lower dedicated to historical memorabilia, including military memorabilia from WWI and II, turn of the century farm implements, an authentic Ozark still and a perfectly preserved Springfield wagon. The oldest items on display are Native American artifacts dating from 5000 B.C. The memorabilia surrounding five of the area's most celebrated progeny are on display; country music stars Jan Howard and Porter Wagoner and baseball greats Preacher Roe, Bill Virdon and Tedd Gullic.

Genealogy Library

If visitors are seeking to discover more about their own heritage, they can find assistance with the South Central Missouri Genealogical Society which maintains a library of genealogical information.

750 West Broadway,West Plains, MO 65775
Ph: (417) 256-4775 Fax: (417) 256-8316

Yellow House Community Arts Center

Built in 1903, the Yellow House provides a venue where artists can exhibit or perform their work. Classes, workshops and special events are also hosted.

Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Festival

Bluegrass music is an important part of Ozark heritage and West Plains is fortunate to have HOBA Bluegrass Park. The Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Festival is held the second weekend in June and the fourth weekend in September and features some of the best bluegrass music anywhere!

HOBA Park, www.heartoftheozarksbluegrass.com
Ph: (417)257-2154 or (417) 256-4489
Park Ph: (417) 256-5847

Old Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival

The Old Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival is held annually, the third weekend in June, in and around the Historic Court Square in West Plains. This festival celebrates old time music and the unique culture of the Ozark Highlands. Musicians, artisans and storytellers from throughout the state come to the West Plains’ festival in support of creating a place to listen, watch, interact and honor the old time traditions of our southern Ozarks’ communities.

www.oldtimemusic.org
email: info@oldtimemusic.org