Welcome to my website, a privately owned and operated place about Columbia’s history and historic buildings.

I am Dianna Borsi O’Brien, a journalist with a passion for history that was ignited back in 2010.

Today, I’m a volunteer with CoMo Preservation, a nonprofit I helped found in 2022. CoMo Preservation is dedicated to helping people preserve the places and spaces they love by providing information to increase awareness of the importance of historic preservation.

I’m also the author of the 2021 Arcadia Press book, Historic Movie Theaters of Columbia. It is available in Columbia, Missouri at Skylark Bookshop, Yellow Dog Bookshop, Bluestem, Boone County History & Culture Center, the State Historic Society of Missouri’s book store and Schnucks.

I fell in love with writing about Columbia’s history in 2010 when I wrote my first preservation piece about the city’s Notable Properties List — and realized that history, economics and business intersect. 

My goal since then has been to create a website that will operate as a portal to Columbia’s history. Frankly, I could use some help, so if you want to pitch in, send me a note either via email at dobrien387 at gmail.com or via my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CoMoHistoricPlaces

This site offers information from news reports, government sources such as those of the Columbia Historic Preservation Commission and the National Register of Historic Places and other valid, verifiable sources.

So who am I to take on this task? I fell in love with this town when I came here in 1990 to attend the School of Journalism. After moving away for various newspaper jobs, I returned in 1998 and took up a freelance writing career.  

Remember, I’m a real person so if you make a comment or want to let me know there’s an error on this site, please be nice.

WHAT’S ON THIS SITE?

• Blog posts about events, people, places, things I think will be interesting or important to my readers.
• Links to published articles.
• Links to reports and documents such as information from the Columbia Historic Preservation Commission and the National Register of Historic Places documents.
• It covers buildings, organizations and special history such as Black History, with a link to all the information about the 1923 James Scott public lynching. For example, you’ll find a page for Houses, Schools (including MU), Resources (so you can do your own research) and a page of links to media coverage going back to 2009.

WHY SHOULD I TRUST THIS SITE? I’m a journalist so I note where I found the information. I work to use information from reliable sources, such as the National Register of Historic Places information or newspapers. If you spot a mistake, let me know. I will correct it.

WHERE DOES THE INFORMATION ON HERE COME FROM? The information on this website has been drawn from a variety of sources, including the city of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission. Note: This website is not affiliated, associated or endorsed by the Historic Preservation Commission. For more information the Columbia’s HPC, go to the HPC’s official site here.

Notable Properties: This website began with a list highlighting the sites on Columbia’s Notable Properties a list developed by Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission.

The list of Notable Properties began in 1998 when the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) began naming five to 10 properties to the list each year except for 1999. Properties named to the list must meet three criteria:

• Within the city limits;
• 50 years old or older;
• Feature architectural or historical importance either through historic features, who lived there or how it was used.

National Register of Historic Places: The website includes places in Boone County on the federal National Register of Historic Places. To learn more about the properties on the National Register of Historic Places, go to this website.

I’m glad you’re here and I’d love to hear from you about Columbia’s history!