Rex McDonald Champion of Champions

The world's champion saddle stallion. Rex McDonald lit up the horse world like the new streetlights lit up Mexico. His career brought significant status to the Missouri Saddle bred, and international recognition to his hometown, now called the "Saddle Horse Capital of the World". In his prime he defeated all the great horses of the day. After his death in 1913, his hide was stuffed and displayed in the lobby of the Ringo Hotel. The hotel burned in 1918, he was rescued by firefighters and taken by Tom Bass to his barn. Here he was given his own special niche to the right of the barn door; countless children stopped by to see and hear tales of his glory days. In the 1930's the hide, somewhat the worse for fire and passage of time, was removed from the barn and buried at the Mexico Fair Grounds. At the opening of each Fair, the audience stood in silent tribute as a wreath was placed on his grave near the inside quarter stretch. Later the fairgrounds was sold, and his remains were moved to Plunkett Park. That property was sold, he was moved across town to the grounds of the American Saddle Horse Museum. There a simple stone marker pays him tribute. More than a century after his birth the legendary black stallion is still remembered as the perfect embodiment of the American Saddle Horse. The Champion of Champion, Audrain County's Rex McDonald.

Furnishings of Graceland Mansion

The mirror above the fireplace was the only thing in the Mansion when acquired. The star engraved at the foot of staircase is to show everyone who enters the home that the mortgage is paid off. The wall paper on the walls, is a replica of the wall paper in the movie "Gone with the Wind."

Prairie View Christian Church

This church at Graceland Mansion Museum is used today for special events, weddings, special presentations. The church has been beautifully restored. The organ was donated and still works, the pulpit chairs were donated by the Methodist Church, as it was destroyed. The chairs were donated by the Methodist church and re-done by inmates for $25 each. The windows are original and are very beautiful. Guess who is behind the pulpit?

Graceland Mansion Museum

Graceland Mansion Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mansion was built in 1897 and now a part of the Audrain County Museum Complex, is an antebellum, Greek Revival building. The inside of the mansion features nine rooms of Victorian furnishings. When the mansion was acquired, the only thing in the mansion was an etched mirror of the mansion over the fireplace. The church was abandoned in a field, a hole in the roof, and raccoons were living in it. The church had to be dismantled piece by piece to move. The historical society contracted with the Amish to have it rebuilt. The schoolhouse was moved on the property, the roof had to be taken completely off it to move it. However, the school house is in the original condition. The horse stables
on the grounds are being restored by Molly and her husband.

Meet Molly - Keeper of History

Today we went to Mexico, MO to see the Graceland Mansion Museum which was built in 1897. It had just closed when we drove up. There was a lady on the grounds, which we now know as Molly, and I asked her if she was from there. She said she grew up there and was kind enough to tell us all about the rich history of this town. After talking with her a few minutes she said she had keys to the mansion, as she used to give tours there, two years ago. She was gracious enough to give us a tour of the mansion and the grounds. Her favorite room of the mansion, of course, was the master bedroom. She modeled her favorite Victorian hat. At the end of the tour we bought a book from the gift shop and she autographed it as, "Molly Keeper of History", Former Board Member, Past President of Audrain County Historical Society. We were very fortunate to have met Molly and if you are reading this Molly, "Thank you so much for taking the time to give us the tour of Graceland Mansion Museum and
the grounds." We were very privileged to have such a knowledgeable and warm individual give us a tour. It was difficult to decide whether Molly was the proudest of her county and its history, or her son, the former Lt. Governor of the State of Missouri.

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