The Farris Theatre was built in 1901 as an opera house. It was originally called the Dougherty Auditorium, named for Sam Dougherty who had moved to Richmond in the late 1800's after striking it rich in the gold fields of Colorado. Sam adopted Richmond as his home town and decided that it needed some culture. Along with some help from local merchants he built the theater and operated it for several years. It was patterned after the Tabor Theater in Leadville, Colorado and is very similar to the Folly Theater in Kansas City which was built in 1900. It was on the circuit for traveling road shows in the early 1900's and was visited by such notables as John Phillip Sousa's band and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It started showing silent movies in the early 20's and converted to "talkies" later. It served as a community center all during the 30's and 40's, and was the showplace for stage shows, plays, movies, meetings, and the like. The Farris Theatre has been fully restored for use as a performance theater, movie house, and community center, by a not-for-profit group called "Friends of the Farris". It is one of the best examples of the turn of the century theater architecture and great care has been taken to restore this beautiful theatre, as nearly as possible, to the way it was in 1901. They are celebrating their 100th Anniversary. For information on the celebration call 816-776-6684.

On a hill overlooking the Ray County Fairgrounds stands an old brick building of curious proportions. Built in 1910, in the shape of a "Y", every room has an outside view. The total cost of $19,491.00 was spent to create County Home (Poor Farm). This three-story building has a total of 54 rooms and its unique design earned County Home a place on the National Register of Historical Places. In the 1970's this unique building became the Ray County Museum sponsored by the Ray County Historical Society. The displays are varied and of great local interest. Rooms preserve Ray County's rich heritage and particular historical events, some of which are The Civil War, World War I and II. Other subjects and events represented in the vast 54 room museum are Indian Artifacts, The Shotwell Parlor(1800's), Coal Mining, Black History, Country Kitchen, Governors, The Daughters of the American Revolution, Quilts, Country School, Post Office, Costume, Doctor, Wildlife, and The Mormon History Exhibit Room, replica of the Golden Tablet , funded by the Mormon Church. A very extensive genealogical library is located just off the Main Entryway. The Ray County Historical Society, in conjunction with the Ray County Genealogical Society, maintains regular hours to help historical researchers. The Ray County Museum is rated at the top for county museums in the State of Missouri. It is open year round, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and closed on the holidays. Admission is a free. Group tours are available with advance reservation.

Bob Ford entered the old west history books when he shot and killed Jesse James in hopes of collecting a $10,000.00 reward. Although pardoned by the Governor of Missouri, it was public sentiment that caused Bob Ford to leave Missouri. In Creede, Colorado, Bob opened a saloon and was killed by Ed O. Kelly.

Bob Ford is buried in Sunny Slope cemetery in Richmond , Mo. and his brother Charley is buried nearby.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

PIONEER CEMETERY 

The land for this cemetery first called "Public Burial Ground" was deeded by John C. Richardson on August 13, 1846 to Charles Morehead, James Lapsely & George Dunn in trust for the "sole & exclusive use of the inhabitants of the town of Richmond as a public burial ground forever". The price was $80.00.

It's location was prompted when disastrous spring flooding washed away the grave of Mr. Richardson's wife's mother in the Missouri River lowlands in 1844.

Oliver Cowdery (he is buried in the cemetery)  was the scribe of the translation as it fell from the lips of Joseph Smith the Prophet. He copied the original manuscript for the printers use and was proof-reader of the 1st Edition of The Book of Mormon. He was the first person baptized in the Latter Day Saint dispensation of the Gospel and was 1 of 6 members of the church at it's organization on April 6, 1830 at Fayette, Seneca County, New York. The monument pictured here was dedicated on November 22, 1911. The cemetery was taken over by the Mormon Church in 1949-1950 after being abandoned for 70 years. Also buried in the cemetery is William T. Anderson otherwise known as "Bloody Bill Anderson" who was a guerilla for the Confederacy in the Civil War.                                                                                           

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