Watkins Woolen Mill State Park & State Historic Site

The Division of State Parks mission is to:

Preserve and interpret the finest examples of Missouri's natural landscapes,
Preserve, maintain, and interpret the most significant examples of Missouri's historic landmarks, and
Provide recreational opportunities associated with these settings for the safe and pleasant use of all our citizens.

Watkins Mill State Park and State Historic Site's mission is:

To preserve and interpret the structures and artifacts relating to the Watkins' textile mill (as an outstanding example of the late 19th century industrial technology) and the Watkins' commercial farming operations.
To interpret the history and various enterprises of the Waltus Watkins family with emphasis on the period of 1860-1882, especially the 1870s.
To accomplish the interpretive aspects of the objectives listed above, particularly in regard to the agricultural element, through utilization of the living history technique to portray the unique and documented history of the complex.
Additionally, to provide recreational opportunities consistent with the facilities historic character and carrying capacity of the property.

Description:
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site is a unique facility in the fact that it is a combined state park and historic site, the only one of it's kind in the state of Missouri. It is named after it's main historic feature, the Watkins Woolen Mill. The woolen mill was started in 1860-1861 by a man named Waltus L. Watkins. They operated for a total of 37 years, until its operations ceased in 1898. Today it is the only 19th century woolen mill in the United States that still has all of its original equipment still intact. In addition to the woolen mill, the historic site also features the Watkins family home (built in the 1850s), which contains many of the Watkins family's original possessions. The state park side of the facility contains a 100-acre lake and offers fishing, boating, swimming, camping, picnicing, hiking, biking and use of the equestrian trail.

History:
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site became a state site in 1964 after a petition was passed by a group of individuals (known as the Watkins Mill Association). Since that time we have been dedicated to the restoration, maintenance and interpretation of the historic site.

Contact people:

Amanda Coonce, Interpretive Resource Technician, (phone), (email)
Matt Carletti, Historic Site Administrator, (phone), (email)
Michael Beckett, Facility Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number:

Address:

26600 Park Road North
Lawson, MO 64062
(See a map)

Web Site: http://www.mostateparks.com/wwmill/

Directions:

From I-35 in Missouri take exit 26 at Kearney, MO. Take Hwy 92 east out of Kearney about 7 miles, and turn left onto the county Hwy RA. Follow RA down the hill and round the curve to the front. . . (more)

Last updated on February 8, 2009

Agency Details: