Meramec State Park

Meramec State Park
Missouri State Park
A stalactiflat in Fisher Cave
Country United States
State Missouri
Counties Franklin, Crawford,
Washington
Elevation 571 ft (174 m) [1]
Coordinates 38°12′24″N 91°6′9″W / 38.20667°N 91.10250°W / 38.20667; -91.10250Coordinates: 38°12′24″N 91°6′9″W / 38.20667°N 91.10250°W / 38.20667; -91.10250
Area 6,896.33 acres (2,791 ha) [2]
Established 1927 [3]
Management Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Visitation 491,117 (2014) [4]
Location in Missouri
Website: Meramec State Park

Meramec State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area located near Sullivan, Missouri, about 60 miles from St. Louis, along the Meramec River.[5] The park has diverse ecosystems such as hardwood forests and glades. There are over 40 caves located throughout the park, the geology of which is a mixture of limestone and dolomite. The most famous is Fisher Cave, located near the campgrounds. The park borders the Meramec Conservation Area.

History

The park was acquired by the state in 1927, then saw active development by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1935. At that time, trails were laid out and numerous buildings constructed including a dining hall, recreation hall, concession building, and shelters.[6] Three surviving CCC-era structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985: the Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower,[7] the Meramec State Park Pump House,[8] and the Meramec State Park Shelter House.[9] In 1991, the Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District was also added to the list.[10]

In the late 1970s, as part of the Meramec Basin Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work on a dam in the park to impound the river. The resulting reservoir would have permanently flooded much of the park and imperiled many different species, including the endangered Indiana bat. However, in response to direct citizen action against the dam, the project was halted, marking a victory for the environmental movement.[11]

Features

The bottom southeast corner of the park includes the old Hamilton Ironworks, after which the Ozarks fiddle tune Hamilton Ironworks is named.[12][13] The Hamilton Iron Works Trail has interpretive signage about the history the blast furnace that once operated "around the clock, seven days a week."[14]

Activities and amenities

In addition to cave tours, the park offers hiking trails, fishing, swimming and boating on the Meramec River, and a campground. The visitor center houses a small exhibit hall with information about the history and ecology of the area.[15]

See also

National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Missouri

References

  1. ↑ "Meramec Park Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ "Missouri State Park Advisory Board Annual Report 2008". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ "State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Missouri State Park Attendance (2014)" (PDF). Missouri State Parks. 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Meramec State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ "ECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 Thematic Resources" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Meramec State Park Pump House". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Meramec State Park Shelter House". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  11. ↑ Watkins, Connor (2006). "The Meramec Basin Project: A Look Back 25 Years Later". Conor Watkins' Ozark Mountain Experience. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  12. ↑ Lohraff, Kevin (2009). Map: Fisher Cave, Old Hamilton Ironworks. Hiking Missouri. Human Kinetics. p. 139. ISBN 9780736075886.
  13. ↑ Beisswenger, Drew; McCann, Gordon (2008). Ozarks Fiddle Music. Mel Bay Publications. p. 186. ISBN 9780786677306. Cecil learned “Hamilton Ironworks” from Gene, who learned it in the 1950s from Roy Wooliver.
  14. ↑ "Trails at Meramec State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Visitor Center at Meramec State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
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