Project Updates
Follow along as we uncover stories, meet local historians, and preserve Poplar Bluff's heritage.
Historic Poplar Bluff at the 2026 Iron Horse Festival
Historic Poplar Bluff shares local history, memorabilia and the Historic Rodgers Theatre book project with the community at Poplar Bluff's 2026 Iron Horse Festival.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Building the Poplar Bluff High School Yearbook Archive
Nearly 3,000 people are now searchable across four editions of The Bluff, including the first yearbook digitized from the Historic Poplar Bluff physical collection.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
When Sharing History Is Easier Than Preserving It
There is a considerable difference between sharing history and preserving it. A reflection on what social media has changed about the way communities think about their own history—and the slower work of preservation that still needs doing.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Learning from Other Communities
One of the unexpected joys of building Historic Poplar Bluff has been discovering how much there is to learn from other communities that have invested in preserving their own history.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Introducing Speak with the Archives
Today we're introducing Speak with the Archives, a new experimental feature that lets visitors ask questions directly from our growing digital archive—and get answers built only from the records we've collected and organized.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
A New Chapter for Historic Poplar Bluff: Introducing the Butler County Family Archive
Historic Poplar Bluff is beginning work on the Butler County Family Archive—a community-built archive that connects families with the places, businesses, churches, photographs, and stories that shaped Butler County.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
The Rodgers Theatre Project: Research Nearly Complete
For nearly a year, Historic Poplar Bluff has been working on one of our largest research projects to date. What started as exploring the Rodgers Theatre has grown into a deeper exploration of I. W. Rodgers, his family, and the people connected to this remarkable landmark.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Historic Poplar Bluff Joins Bluff's All American Weekend at the Iron Mountain Depot
Historic Poplar Bluff was honored to participate in Bluff's All American Weekend at the historic Iron Mountain Depot, marking our first public event featuring preservation-themed merchandise, historical reproductions, postcards, signs, engravings, and community engagement activities.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Historic Poplar Bluff Train Depot – Community Efforts Continue to Preserve a Local Landmark
We recently attended a board meeting with the group dedicated to preserving the Iron Mountain Railroad Depot, gaining insight into ongoing restoration efforts, future plans, and the deep community connections tied to this iconic landmark.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Volunteer Work Day at the Historic Rodgers Theatre
This weekend the Historic Poplar Bluff team had the opportunity to spend the day helping with maintenance and preparation work inside the iconic Historic Rodgers Theatre ahead of the Randy Travis More Life Tour.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Butler County Courthouse Added to Lost Sites Series
Historic Poplar Bluff continues to expand its Lost Sites series with a new piece featuring the original Butler County Courthouse that once stood in downtown Poplar Bluff.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
Historic Poplar Bluff Reaches Over 250,000 Community Views
Over the past several weeks, Historic Poplar Bluff content has reached more than 250,000 views across social media — a milestone that reflects genuine community interest in the history and stories of Poplar Bluff.
By Historic Poplar Bluff
What if we could preserve a Poplar Bluff historic home?
The Corrigan House in Poplar Bluff is currently for sale, and it sparked a little wishful thinking for us.
Poplar Bluff Museum - A Hunt For Photos & History
Yesterday, we had the privilege of spending over two hours with Clinton Salyer at the Poplar Bluff Museum, diving deep into the city’s early photographic history and preservation efforts.
A Discussion About The Iron Mountain Depot
Last Wednesday, we had the wonderful opportunity to meet with the board of the Iron Mountain Depot (Poplar Bluff Historic Train Depot).
"Big Boy" 2026 Tour - Merch Release From Union Pacific
Union Pacific launched their official merch store for the 2026 Big Boy Tour!
A Visit With A Local Author and His Wife
We are so excited to have had a visit with John Stanard and his wife Rose Anne!
Scheduled Meetings and Visits
We are researching and making some fantastic contacts and new friends in the community!
Looking Ahead to 2026 — Big Boy 4014
Big Boy 4014 - Coming in 2026!
A Visit To The Poplar Bluff Museum
If you’re interested in the history of Poplar Bluff, the Poplar Bluff Museum is one of the most important places to start.