Check out the CoMo Preservation: CommunityMade List, a new resource designed to help you explore historic preservation and Columbia and Boone County’s history.

The List consists of online resources and 34 books and materials selected from the library’s extensive holdings by CoMo Preservation volunteers Nina Sappington and Dianna Borsi O’Brien. 

Join us to learn about the construction of the original buildings on the campus of the University of Missouri. We often hear about the landowners who donated money and land to found the University of Missouri, but we don’t often hear about who actually constructed the buildings on the university campus. Our guest speaker, Zachary Dowdle, will take us behind the scenes with his research into the role of enslaved people in the construction of the oldest buildings on the campus of the University of Missouri. Our 6 pm meeting on Tuesday November 19 is free and open to the public in the Friends Room of the Columbia Public Library.

Join us for a walking tour of spooky stories featuring several historic buildings in Columbia.

You may not know John Ott's name, but surely his historic preservation work has touched your life. At 6 p.m. on Oct. 22, John will share the ups and downs of the restorations of buildings ranging from the Quonset hut on North Tenth Street, where the Acola Coffee shop now buzzes, to the grand Stephens Building on Broadway, where people munch on Seoul Tacos.

The meeting will be in the Columbia Public Library. CoMo Preservation meetings are free and open to the public. John will share his historical preservation work in an interview format.

At the 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 meeting, we’ll hear how  Orr Street Studios grew from a dilapidated warehouse into a community art center – and how it was almost lost in a fire in July.

Learn about Morris Frederick Bell, the man who designed the awe-inspiring Francis Quadrangle at 6 p.m. on August 27, 2024 at the CoMo Preservation monthly speaker event.

On Monday, June 3, the City of Columbia bought the historic home of Henry Kirklin, a famous African-American horticulturist, preserving it for the future. Donations for its restoration can be made via a portal set up by the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.

Learn about the new stops on Columbia’s African American Heritage Trail at 6 p.m. on June 25, 2024. Three new stops have been added and Barbra A.B. Horrell, co-director of the African American Heritage Trail organization, will give an overview and update at the CoMo Preservation meeting.

We're thrilled to unveil our CoMo Preservation logo! A huge shout-out to the talented designer, Adrienne Luther! This project was a collaborative endeavor, drawing inspiration from nature, the charming architectural details found on Columbia's historic buildings, and the organic essence of the Midwest.

Test your knowledge of Columbia's historic architecture with the Brick & Mortar Quiz at our May 28 Cake & Cocktails event; free but reservations required: https://givebutter.com/GTO3Rl

Q: What was the first place in Columbia to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places?