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Morgan County Museum
The Morgan County Museum is located at 120 N. Monroe in the old Martin Hotel, and includes 28 rooms of antiques. Built in 1877, the museum is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places in Washington D.C. You can call the museum at 573-378-5530.
Royal Theater
The Royal Theater was built in 1931, and was converted from movies to live entertainment, including stage plays and musical acts, in 1981. To find out more about scheduled activities, call 573-378-6226.
Versailles History
Versailles was established in 1835, with just a few houses and mud streets. The highest point in Versailles was chosen as the site of the town square, at the center of which is the Morgan County courthouse.
In 1836, William Hicks opened a 3 room tavern/inn and livery stable on south Monroe. This tavern/inn became the stagecoach stop for the Jefferson City to Springfield line. The 1840 population of Versailles was 70, with 25 buildings. The first commercial building in Versailles was erected by Hugh Galbraith, a small brick structure located one block north of the square on north Monroe. Wooden plank sidewalks connected local businesses.
In 1880, the Boonville, Tipton, Versailles branch of the Missouri-Pacific Railroad was completed. Morgan County contributed $135,000 toward its completion. A celebration of the railroad's opening was held on June 2, 1880, and a large crowd from Morgan County , many of whom had never seen a train before, attended, and were on hand to see the first train pull into Versailles. The Missouri-Pacific Railroad depot was just off north Monroe, 2 blocks north of the square.
The Bank Of Versailles was established on November 21, 1882. In 1891, the Chicago Globe, Light, and Heat Company furnished Versailles with gas street lighting.
In 1904, the railroad from St. Louis through Versailles, to Kansas City was completed just in time for the World's Fair in St. Louis. Before the railroad was completed west of Versailles, trains coming to Versailles had to back up to Eldon where they could turn around for the return trip to St. Louis. Railroad mail service from St. Louis to Versailles began on February 1, 1904. There were 2 day trains and 2 night trains running from St. Louis to Kansas City, and 2 more day trains running from St. Louis to Denver Colorado. The railroad led to a 25% increase in Versailles' population, and the opening of a local clay plant.
The Morgan County Bank, (now the US Bank) was built on the east side of the square and opened on October 25, 1963. The bank moved to its present location on west Newton in 1979. Citizens Bank of Versailles opened on west Newton in 1992.