Morgan County Historical Museum

Hotel History

Samuel and Elizabeth (Grey) Martin came to Versailles, Missouri by covered wagon in 1853 from Patrick County, Virginia.

In Versailles, they leased a one and one-half story log structure and thus began the Martin Hotel.  One year later, they purchased the log structure, with two extra beds and a dining room for $300, bought an entire block of land for the taxes owed and moved the log building to the present site.

A Three-story frame addition was built on to the north side of the log structure in 1877, with a two-story brick building replacing the log structure in 1884.

Throughout the history of the Martin Hotel, there have been famous guest signing the register such as Frank James, Cole Younger, P.T. Barnum, Grover Cleveland and Mr. & Mrs. Harry Truman.  During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers signed I.O.U. in the register for the meals they could not pay for.

The assembly room of the Martin Hotel was the dining room, where long tables held home cooked food served from the hotel kitchen.  A cistern in the courtyard furnished water for the hotel.

Other attractions in the museum include the old barbershop, weaving rooms, quit room, war relics, beauty parlor, an example of an early rural school room and many others too numerous to mention.

Stagecoaches coming through from Jefferson City to Springfield stopped in front of the hotel and let off passengers, among them traveling salesmen, called "drummers" who displayed their merchandise in the "salesroom"  of the hotel.

Samuel Martin died in 1906 and his widow Elizabeth and their daughters Lucy and Sally, operated the business for many more years.  Elizabeth "Grandma" Martin died in 1930 at the age of 104 years.  Lucy Martin died July 20, 1954.  A grandson, Foster Brown was the last owner of the hotel.

Tour Information

The Martin Hotel Museum is open year-round
Tuesday thru Friday, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon.

Special tours for groups are conducted by prior arrangement. 
For more information, call 573-378-5530 or e-mail them at mocohist@versailles-mo.net

Cost of Tour:  Adult  - $4.50
Age 6 thru 12  -  $1.00
Age 5 and under  -  Free

Special Group rates available upon reservation.