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Star School

Complete your visit to the Ralph Foster Museum with a step into the past at the Star School, a turn-of-the-century one-room schoolhouse, which is located just north of the Museum.

Star School No. 38 was originally located on the bank of Flat Creek downstream from McDowell, Missouri in Barry County. The schoolhouse was received by College of the Ozarks in 1975. Because of narrow roads the building had to be taken apart in sections before moving and was meticulously reconstructed beside the museum. Dedication ceremonies were held on March 28, 1981, and four teachers who had taught at Star were honored: Ben Stubblefield (five terms), Edna Berry Melton (three terms), Leta Thomas Chastain, and Ella Garris (taught in 1910) who was represented by her daughter.

*The Star Schoolhouse is closed for the season from November 1 through mid-March (weather dependent.) The schoolhouse is usually adequately staffed during the summer, and it can be opened on a museum student worker availability basis at other times of the year. Inquire at the front desk in the museum lobby.

Discovery Room

The Ralph Foster Museum offers several educational programs for the younger museum visitors. A hands-on Children's Discovery Room is available free of charge to children ages 4-9 and is open Monday through Friday. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Loan kits are available for area schools, which contain artifacts, text, audio and worksheets, and may be loaned to a class for a period of five days. A brochure is available which lists the kit contents and loan instructions.

*The C. Wallace Walter Children’s Discovery Room is available when there are adequate museum student staff to supervise the area. Inquire at the front desk in the museum lobby.