217 South Ohio Avenue

Built in 1876 this Classical Revival features buff brick and the original tin cornice above the second floor window. The terrazzo tile entry way reads “Bichsel” from the Bichsel Brothers Jewelry store, which was located here from 1915 through 1991.

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219 South Ohio Avenue

Katie Building, named after Katie Cassidy, not the railroad. This building was the home of Sedalia’s C. W. Flower’s department store from 1907- 1989. Removal of the 1972 metal covering revealed a terra cotta Beaux-Arts facade with garland cortouches. Missing terra cotta was replaced with modern materials and faux painted to blend with the original finish.

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225 - 227 South Ohio Avenue

The Uptown Theater opened in the summer of 1936 and is an excellent example of art deco architecture. The theater cost $50,000 had 800 seats, a balcony, and RCA Victor sound. This was Sedalia’s first air-conditioned theater The ticket booth features frosted Art Deco patterns on glass and the theater foyer has original light fixtures and inner vestibule doors.

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113-117 East Third Street

Sicher Hotel, Italianate style, 1885. This building was part of the Sicher Hotel for many years with the saloon being at 113 along with a trunk factory. The hotel dining rooms were on the upper floors. The building was renovated in 1982 to reflect the historical integrity of the 1880s by its current owner and tenant Septagon Industries.

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218-220 South Ohio Avenue

This Art Deco style building was built in 1936 and has a beautiful sculptural facade. Hidden in the pseudo Egyptian motifs are an “M” and a “W” for the Montgomery Ward store that once occupied this building.

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224 - 232 South Ohio Avenue

The building that covers the majority of the block was known as the Ilgenfritz Building, now the Commerce Building. It was built in 1886, is French Renaissance Revival, and survived a 1946 fire. The ground floor serves as retail space for several businesses.

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300 South Ohio Avenue

The Sedalia National Bank building, circa 1898 and 1932. Recent renovations have restored the front to a more original Art Deco and Classical Revival look. An exceptional Art Deco broad central eagle is atop a foliated block at the center of this facade.

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301 South Ohio Avenue

Organized in 1882, the bank moved to this corner in 1888 and built this larger building in 1929. This Neoclassical styled building is now occupied by KRDO Radio station; the original bank vault is used as a meeting room.

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312 - 314 South Ohio Avenue

The Yeater Building was built circa 1880 and circa 1915, when it was refaced after a fire. Glazed white brick and terra cotta classical detail, plus unusual oriels (bay windows) in the alley make this a unique building. The storefront restoration of this Classical Revival building revisits the original design.

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322 S. Ohio Avenue - Trust Building

The centerpiece of Downtown Sedalia. The turrets of this Romanesque Revival style building constructed from Warrensburg sandstone carve an eye-catching sculpture against the Sedalia skyline. Originally built to house the Missouri Trust Co., the structure was dedicated in June 1889. Two fires in 1997 severely damaged the top floor of the building. It now is in the possession of the Pettis County Commission and is being restored under the direction of a not-for-profit redevelopment corporation.

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103 East Fourth Street - The Hotel Bothwell

This seven-story building is Sedalia’s tallest and was constructed during the years, 1925-27 by developer, philanthropist, John Homer Bothwell. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel is an example of Classic Revival Architecture. Some of the Hotel’s more famous visitors have been Harry Truman, Bette Davis and Clint Eastwood. Restored to its original grandeur, the hotel boasts fine dining as well as a coffee shop, speakeasy, and the Ragtime Store. Meeting and banquet facilities are available with on-site catering and tours of the property are given with advanced notice.

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412 South Ohio Avenue

Constructed in 1882 in Italianate style, the W. E. Bard Drug Company moved to this location just after the turn of the century. The storefront appears to date circa 1935, and is to the right of the staircase door. While not original, the storefront is an excellent example of early 20th century storefront design.

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415 S. Ohio Avenue - Pettis County Court House

The county seat of Pettis County was moved from Georgetown south to Sedalia on February 15, 1864. The first courthouse was of frame construction and was located on a corner of the alley on the west side of Ohio, between Second and Third St. In 1884 a magnificent new courthouse was built on this block of land donated by General George R. Smith. That structure burned in 1920 and was replaced on its present location by the Classical Revival building in 1924. A collection of early artifacts and Sedalia memorabilia are housed on the main floor. On the third floor in the Pettis County Circuit Courtroom St. Louis muralist and restorationist of oil paintings, Barbara Manes Campbell, was commissioned to paint 40 murals. These murals depict the history of the county on canvas panels which were installed on the walls at the time of the building’s renovation. The subject matter of each painting is arranged chronologically and reads from top to bottom, left to right. The courthouse is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed holidays).

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111 W. Fifth Street - Liberty Center

The gracious portals of the Classical Revival style building known today as Liberty Center, opened in 1920 as the home of the New Lona Theater In those days, patrons anxious to occupy its 1,000 seats, entered through a lobby from 500 S. Ohio. The first ‘talkie’ movie was shown here in 1928. When the theater’s venue changed exclusively to motion pictures, its name was changed to Liberty Theater The walkway in front of the center was laid in a pattern to symbolize the “swishing motion” of a women’s long dress as she made her way westward behind a covered wagon. The building is now the cultural and performing arts center for the community. For more information on the Liberty Center Association for the Arts visit their web site at www.LibertyCenterSedalia.org.

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500 - 502 South Ohio Avenue - F. E. Hoffman Building

Built in 1891-92, this five-story Romanesque Revival building was also the lobby area of the theater located at 111 West Fifth Street. The top three floors were removed during the 1930s to lower the property tax. It has recently been restored.

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Click here for Whistle Stops 31 - 45

Whistle Stops 1 - 15 | Whistle Stops 16 - 30 | Whistle Stops 31- 45 | Whistle Stops 46 - 58D