Founded in 1919, the Missouri State Museum occupies the ground floor of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, giving it a distinctive place within the seat of state government rather than on a separate campus. As Missouri's showpiece museum, it connects exhibits on the state's culture, history, and identity with one of its best-known civic landmarks. The museum remains active today, and in June 2025 it opened a folk art exhibit that added a new focus to its presentation of Missouri's heritage.