The Museum of Unity & Hope

The Museum of Unity & Hope is dedicated to uplifting and sharing the history of the Black experience within Festus, Missouri and surrounding areas. Through the study of segregated spaces, we strive to preserve, display, and honor the stories and artifacts exemplifying the resilience of Black communities who advocated for equity in America’s small towns.

Join Us for Trivia Night on March 7

Click Here for Details!

About The Museum

While many museums tell the national story of Black history, The Museum of Unity & Hope brings that history home. It delves deeper, focusing on the Twin Cities of Festus and Crystal City—two Missouri towns divided by a railroad track but joined by their roles in America’s racial history. This museum reveals the lesser-known realities of segregation in the area and the ways in which people worked toward a united community.

Through interactive exhibits, oral histories, archival photographs, and educational programs, the Museum of Unity & Hope highlights the everyday struggles and triumphs of Black students, families, educators, and community leaders as they advocated for integration.

Building sketch of The Museum of Unity & Hope – designed by Tate Riney

What We Offer:

Permanent exhibits on Jim Crow laws and segregated schools in Jefferson County
Rotating galleries on Black cultural life in Festus and surrounding communities
Student-centered programming and classroom partnerships
Oral history archives featuring the voices of local residents
Public events focused on remembrance, resilience, and racial reconciliation

Impact Goals:

Provide a space for education and community dialogue
Serve as a resource for teachers and students studying civil rights and Black history
Amplify the legacy of underrecognized Black communities in Missouri

Donate Now!

Our capital campaign offers several donor tiers to honor contributions of all sizes. Donors at every tier listed below will receive recognition that will be displayed prominently and permanently within the facility. This lasting acknowledgment ensures that your name or organization becomes a visible and celebrated part of the museum’s foundation for generations to come.

Giving Tiers

TROJAN: $500 – $1,000

GILL: $1,000 – $5,000

THOMPSON: $5,000 – $25,000

MCCULLOUGH: $25,000 – $50,000

SHROPSHIRE: $50,000 – $100,000

DOUGLASS: $100,000 +

Why It Matters

The history of segregation in America did not end at the Mason-Dixon Line. In small towns like Festus and Crystal City, segregation shaped generations. Yet these stories are often overlooked in both public memory and academic discourse. The Museum of Unity & Hope fills that gap, ensuring that local voices and acts of courage are remembered and honored while celebrating the desegregation of education that occurred before federal mandates.

Support Needed

We seek funding for building construction and site excavation, exhibit development, archival preservation, youth programs, and traveling displays to preserve these powerful stories and expand our reach. Your support helps us ensure that the work for a better community is never forgotten. If you have artifacts for donation, please let us know!