Prairie Mound School

Prairie Mound School. General John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site. , Built in 1874 and located nine miles south of Laclede, Prairie Mound School served as a rural one-room schoolhouse. It is where young John Pershing moved out of his boyhood home and into the world. He taught there before and after receiving his teaching certification from Kirksville Normal School, now Truman State University. The position paid $30 a month. , Pershing taught at Prairie Mound School for just two years before deciding to take a competitive military exam. His high marks on the test earned him an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Though Pershing left teaching, his years in the profession defined his work ethic and his deep respect for education. , In 1986, the Pershing Park Memorial Association moved the one-room schoolhouse to Laclede. Today, the structure serves as an exhibit space showcasing the life and career of Pershing. "Doorways" is the unifying theme throughout the exhibit. These doorways represent those that Pershing walked through in his life. , In the center of the gallery is a secure double-sided case. One side features a portrait of Pershing. The other side displays Pershing's West Point graduation ring and a commemorative Gruen watch. The exhibit also contains items a soldier would have carried during World War I. , [photo captions] , . Prairie Mound School as it stands today. , . Exhibit showcasing the life and career of Gen. John J. Pershing. , . Portrait of Pershing and school desk inside of the school.