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As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we're shining a light on the places that highlight our country and Missouri's history.
KRCG traveled to the town of Versailles in Morgan County.
There, you'll find the Martin Hotel, dating back to the 1850s.
The hotel is the headquarters for the Morgan County Museum and Historical Society.
Checking in to the 26-room historic hotel is taking a trip back in time.
Guests no longer pay for a hotel stay, but they are welcomed into all of the rooms that now belong to the Morgan County Museum and Historical Society.
Each room has exhibits and themes.
"This looks like a research lab," explained Linda Appleton, genealogy researcher for the Morgan County Historical Society.
It's a genealogy room - and Linda Appleton is the genealogy researcher.
"I love it back here. I love to hear all the stories of people who have lived here in Morgan County. When I have somebody come down, usually the first thing I ask them is – are you from Morgan County? What is your name? Appleton said.
She jokes that if it happened in Morgan County, she probably has it on record.
"We have marriage records here, we have books on World War I, World War II, Civil War records, veteran records, veterans buried here in the cemeteries," Appleton explained.
This building is considered one of the most historically significant buildings in the area.
During Versailles formative years, the Martin Hotel served as a social and transportation hub.
Hotel visitors and guests include prominent figures such as President Cleveland, President Truman, and Frank James – brother of infamous outlaw Jesse James.
"It was a big deal; this was the big hub, the stagecoach stopped here. And some people got married in Versailles; for their honeymoon they would come here to stay all night," said Lea Jones, President of the Morgan County Museum and Historical Society.
150 years of stories are documented here, along with the history of Morgan County's founding families.
"The families have been here from the beginning and generations, and I think it's wonderful – the whole history, not just of the hotel but Versailles, is amazing. What's also important to me is that we can see what they went through – the hard work," Jones explained.
The museum is available for tours.
The stagecoach no longer stops here, but all are welcome.
"The show-me state doesn't even express to me how beautiful I think Missouri is as a whole. And just the resources, and the people in the area, there are so many reasons that if I were traveling, I would stop here," Jones adds.
