A Remarkable Achievement

Presser Hall (completed in 1927) was one of the showcase buildings on the campus of Hardin College, in Mexico, Missouri. But only five years after the stunning auditorium was built, the college closed amidst the Great Depression. Orphaned by circumstances, the majestic theater slowly succumbed to the ravages of time. By 1987 it looked tired and abandoned. With no prospects for adoption and renewal, it seemed that Presser Hall would be lost forever. But two determined women in the small town decided otherwise. Soon, they were joined by other community members who refused to let the dream die. And so, the Presser Hall Restoration Society was born. That small spark not only rescued a historic treasure, but also kindled the flame of artistic creativity throughout central Missouri. Discover how that arts renaissance unfolded in A Remarkable Achievement.