White River Valley Historical Society

09/05/2026

Pictured here during the Civil War are Alzona Prather and Noah Moore. Examining the standard 1861–1865 wartime timeline alongside their unit history helps us better pinpoint exactly when these two Taney County men sat for the camera.

09/04/2026

Rose O’Neill posing in a woodland setting rose to fame around 1909 for her artistic work creating the Kewpie dolls. Rose is noted to have been the first female cartoonist published in the US.

Her home and surroundings stand on the original site near Highway 65 north of Branson, Missouri.

09/03/2026

This 1993 photograph captures the expansion of the former Odie's Barbeque, a popular restaurant located along Highway 160 in Forsyth. Situated at the time across from what is known today as Southern Bank, the restaurant later suffered a major fire and relocated to Branson, Missouri.

09/02/2026

The WRVHS will be closed, Monday September 7th in observance of Labor Day.

09/02/2026

We greatly appreciate everyone who participated in our recent poll about posting AI-enhanced historic photos to our page. The feedback we received was clear, and we're grateful for all the thoughtful responses.

From this point forward, the White River Valley Historical Society will only post original, unaltered historical photographs on our social media.

While AI tools can make old images sharper and more engaging, we recognize that our primary mission is to preserve and present history as it was documented. Altering that record risks blurring the line between preservation and reinterpretation.

A note on restoration: From time to time, you may notice that a photo we share has had physical damage, such as tears, stains, or creases, digitally repaired. Our goal in these cases is to return the photo as closely as possible to how it looked when originally taken, before decades of wear affected the physical print. We view this type of editing as an act of preservation.

We appreciate your voices in helping us shape this policy, and we look forward to continuing to share images of the White River Valley's remarkable history with you.

09/02/2026

The seal of Taney County, Missouri dates back to 1850. Elmo Ingenthron published the origin of the seal in his book Land of Taney.

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

A recently acquired antique postcard highlights the Log Cabin Hotel in Hollister, Missouri. Dated August 17, 1915.

It would seem the vacationer sending the card, was enjoying a pleasant stay in the Ozarks.

08/30/2026

Circa 1905 building the approach to the Railroad Bridge at Branson, Mo.

08/29/2026

Schools Days Fond Memories.🍎