Speak with the Archives
A Digital Archivist trained on the history of Poplar Bluff and Butler County, Missouri — historic sites, families, businesses, newspapers, and more.
historicpoplarbluff.com/speak
Historic Sites
Ask about buildings, landmarks, and lost places
Families & People
Explore genealogy and biographical records
City Directory
Search 1,000+ businesses from historic directories
Timeline Events
Discover key moments in Poplar Bluff history
Newspapers & Documents
Draw from digitized articles and historic texts
Community Stories
Tap into memories shared by local families
Click the Speak with the Archives button in the bottom-right corner to open the Archivist and start asking questions.
Free users receive one question per day. Subscribe for unlimited access.
Things you can ask
"What businesses were near the Iron Mountain Depot in 1910?
"Tell me about the 1927 tornado and which buildings were destroyed.
"What do the records say about the Baumhoefer family?
"Where was the first courthouse in Poplar Bluff?
"What hotels existed downtown in the early 1900s?
"Who were the early merchants listed in the city directory?