THE LEE'S Summit Historical Society Museum is located in the 1905 train depot in the heart of downtown Lee's Summit. The museum contains maps, photographs, and artifacts early Lee's Summit. Originally a bustling center of transportation, the depot has an interesting history.

Table Caption: LSHS Museum

According to Bill Earngey, author of Missouri Roadsides, William B. Howard, founder (1865) of Strother (replatted as Lee's Summit in 1868), donated lots to the Pacific Railroad in exchange for a depot. Lee’s Summit was a "central point" “where roads from Independence to Harrisonville, and from Westport to where Lone Jack and Sibley and Fort Osage crossed." Rocky Mountain fur trade and Santa Fe trade routes were also being formed, bringing additional traffic through Lee’s Summit.("Lee's Summit History").

Today, the depot continues to function as a gathering place for residents and visitors. Trains continue to pass through downtown Lee's Summit, and the depot also houses the LSHS Museum. Visitors and residents alike enjoy themselves at Howard Station Park, a lovely spot to contemplate in Downtown Lee's Summit. The Lee's Summit Historical Society is collecting artifacts and photos of Lee's Summit's rich past. Feel free to contact us if you would like to contribute to the preservation of our cultural heritage by sharing your items, photos, and stories of historic Lee's Summit, MO. The museum is open Saturday, 10-4 p.m.