Chamber

Board of Directors & Ambassadors

The Chamber prides themselves on having a group of leaders that are diverse, engaging, and are constantly seeking success within their organizations and the Chamber. The board helps create an engaging and innovative environment by supporting the Chamber and its staff and members and always leading by example.

Callaway

Since 1989, Chamber Ambassadors have been the biggest cheerleaders for the Chamber and the community. You will see them at ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking ceremonies where they celebrate business milestones. Additionally, you will see them advocating for the Chamber and recruiting businesses to join or at Chamber events lending a helping hand.

Second

Debbie Larue, Joe Holt, Bruce

Kelly

Andrea Bedrosian, Barb Huddleston, Sara Jeffery, Sara McDaniel

Back Row: Marcia Lamons, Diane Buchli, Doc Kritzer, Christopher Scott, Josh King, Hannah Mealy, & Blaine Pestle

Not Pictured: Tricia Case, Cindy Baker, Jacob Lauer, Greg Newsom, Don Woodson, & Joneda Phillips

This visitor guide is brought to you by Visit Fulton—Callaway County Tourism. Although our office shares the same building as the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, Callaway County Tourism is solely responsible for all content. As things change and evolve constantly, we invite you to follow us on Facebook @visitfulton and to visit our website www.visitfulton.com for the most up-to-date information. For questions or other information, please contact us directly.

We hope you enjoy this chance to explore the colorful history, legends and famous people that combine to make the story of Callaway County a fascinating tale 200+ years in the making.

Historically, the area was inhabited primarily by the Osage.

The first European settlers arrived in the area. Most arrived from

Missouri School for the Deaf was founded and the Missouri State Hospital opened. Fulton College for men was established; the

School to educate girls orphaned by the war was founded north of Kansas City. After moving to Fulton in the late 19th-century, it was

Winston Churchill is invited by President Harry S. Truman to visit his home state, where he delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College. In 1969, America’s National Churchill Museum opens in a 17th-century church relocated from

A statue commissioned for the Fire Fighters Memorial in Kingdom City was sitting in customs in New York City on September 11th. It was donated by the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri to the New York City Fire Department to honor those killed on 9/11. In

The area was organized into Callaway County, named for Captain James Callaway—a grandson of Daniel Boone.

The Civil War begins. Missouri was a border state, with mixed loyalties. Hearing rumors of an impending invasion in October, the commander of a hastily formed militia offered to disband if the federal troops agreed not to invade. The federal commander agreed. There was a perception that the Union militia treated the area as an entity apart from the rest of the state. That’s how it became known as “The Kingdom of Callaway.”

1820

APRIL

1861

Former president Ronald Reagan visits Fulton to dedicate the Berlin Wall sculpture "Breakthrough" by Edwina Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill. Mikhail Gorbachev visited in 1992, followed by Margaret Thatcher in 1996.

A dedication of a monument marked Callaway County’s official birthday. The planned Bicentennial bash, like so many activities in 2020, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, Callaway County held its celebration along with the State of Missouri’s Bicentennial.

1990