The History Museum on the Square and Great Southern Bank have announced a new partnership in support of the museum’s Traveling Exploration Trunk education program.
Through this sponsorship, Great Southern Bank will make the museum’s travel trunks available to anyone to borrow at no cost, facilitating access to enriching educational experiences within the Springfield and southwest Missouri communities.
Presented by History Museum on the Square, the Traveling Exploration Trunks offer local students, community groups and homeschool families a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of Springfield and Greene County. Each of the seven trunks features reproductions, primary sources and other interactive, “hands-on” teaching aids, carefully curated to provide a hands-on learning experience. Covering a wide range of topics and aligned with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education learning standards, the trunks serve as a resource for educators and learners alike.
“By partnering with the History Museum on the Square and supporting Traveling Exploration Trunks, we’re not only preserving history, we’re inspiring the future,” said Andrea Brady, community outreach and development manager for Great Southern Bank. “Together, we’re creating a space where kids can learn, dream and be the architects of tomorrow, building on the wisdom of the past.”
Inside each trunk, the history of Springfield and Greene County comes to life along with the broader social and cultural context of the time, providing a comprehensive learning experience for all who participate in the program. From clothing and household items to tools, animal pelts and toys, the contents of these trunks provide a tangible connection to the past, deepening understanding and appreciation of our shared heritage.
“We are incredibly grateful for Great Southern Bank’s generous support. Their sponsorship of the Traveling Exploration Trunk will make a huge difference in our community,” said Sean Fitzgibbons, executive director of History Museum on the Square. “Not only will this partnership ensure access to our educational resources regardless of financial constraints, it will strengthen our shared commitment to preserving and sharing the rich history of Springfield and Greene County.”
For more information about the Traveling Trunk program and how to borrow a trunk, visit the History Museum on the Square website at historymuseumonthesquare.org/trunks or email Whitney Mosley, education manager, at whitney@historymuseumonthesquare.org.
