Workers have stumbled upon history during standard foundation repair at the 1859 Jail Museum in Missouri. The attraction was undergoing standard foundation maintenance when workers made some interesting discoveries.The first thing they found was bones.”We had to call the police department to come and figure it out. Was it a person who had been there for 150 years?” museum volunteer Jason Wade said.Fortunately, police determined that the bones were likely from an animal.This project has been years in the making for the 1859 Museum. The northwest corner of the building had been slowly sinking, prompting a $300,000 repair project. While digging below the foundation, they found some pretty cool items.”Some pottery, some bottles, some tools,” Wade said.These artifacts have been buried for nearly two centuries. The museum spent two days trying to piece together the puzzle of these artifacts.”Basically, what we found is proof of domestic occupation,” Wade said.Among the finds were perfume, wine bottles, and a saw. These artifacts tell a little more of the Jackson County story.”It gives us an idea of what was here before,” Wade said.According to Wade, all the items found pre-date the 1859 jail.Built, of course, in 1859, the historical site is the location of the third Jackson County jail. Established in 1959, the Jackson County Historical Society continues to preserve the site.The museum plans to conduct another, more extensive dig next week in hopes of finding more artifacts. Whatever they uncover will be put on display inside the museum.The northwest corner of the building has been closed to the public for some time while they’ve waited for the construction to fix it. Now, with the discovery of these historical items, the wait seems to have been worth it.
Workers have stumbled upon history during standard foundation repair at the 1859 Jail Museum in Missouri.
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The attraction was undergoing standard foundation maintenance when workers made some interesting discoveries.
The first thing they found was bones.
“We had to call the police department to come and figure it out. Was it a person who had been there for 150 years?” museum volunteer Jason Wade said.
Fortunately, police determined that the bones were likely from an animal.
This project has been years in the making for the 1859 Museum. The northwest corner of the building had been slowly sinking, prompting a $300,000 repair project.
While digging below the foundation, they found some pretty cool items.
“Some pottery, some bottles, some tools,” Wade said.
These artifacts have been buried for nearly two centuries. The museum spent two days trying to piece together the puzzle of these artifacts.
“Basically, what we found is proof of domestic occupation,” Wade said.
Among the finds were perfume, wine bottles, and a saw. These artifacts tell a little more of the Jackson County story.
“It gives us an idea of what was here before,” Wade said.
According to Wade, all the items found pre-date the 1859 jail.
Built, of course, in 1859, the historical site is the location of the third Jackson County jail. Established in 1959, the Jackson County Historical Society continues to preserve the site.
The museum plans to conduct another, more extensive dig next week in hopes of finding more artifacts. Whatever they uncover will be put on display inside the museum.
The northwest corner of the building has been closed to the public for some time while they’ve waited for the construction to fix it. Now, with the discovery of these historical items, the wait seems to have been worth it.
