Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks

The Ralph Foster Museum on the campus of the College of the Ozarks grew from humble beginnings in the late 1920s to become one of the midwest's foremost institutions of historical preservation. Dr. Robert M. Good, the president of the School took an interest in the idea of a museum on campus. Subsequently, he made space available for the display of the items in the basement of Abernathy Hall, a boy's dormitory. When the dorm was later vacated, funds were provided for the conversion of the entire building into a museum.  The primary focus of the Rlaph Foster Museum today is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit items relating to the Ozarks region. One of the more famous exhibits is the original vehicle used in the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies". In addition, visitors will find antiques, weapons, dolls, natural history and other items from around the world.