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Visitor Center/Museum

at Watkins Mill State Park

Accessible Symbol

exhibits inside the visitor center

 

The visitor center is where you will want to start your discovery tour of the Watkins Woolen Mill complex. A short orientation program and exhibits will enhance your visit to this National Historic Landmark and National Engineering Landmark. Entrance to the visitor center is free. Guided tours of Watkins Woolen Mill and Watkins House are available for a nominal fee. The visitor center is accessible and includes restrooms, a souvenir sales counter and a beverage vending machine. In addition, the museum also includes climate-controlled storage facilities for the historic site's archives and artifact collections and a conservation and exhibit work area.

Hours

April 15-Oct. 31

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday

Nov. 1-April 14

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Coordinates

39.410174, -94.259666

Park Hours

For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, click here to visit our Park and Site Status Map.


On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Day-Use Areas

  • Lake Trail
    7 a.m. to sunset
  • Williams Creek Picnic Area
    Open year-round
  • Hill Top Picnic Area
    Open daily April 15-Oct. 31
  • Fox Hunt Picnic Area
    Open daily April 15-Oct. 31
  • South Gate:
    April 15-Oct. 31: 6:30 a.m. to sunset, daily
    Nov. 1-April 14: 7 a.m. to sunset, daily
  • North Gate
    7 a.m. to sunset, daily, year-round

Park Office hours

April 15-Oct. 31 (On-Season)

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday

Nov. 1-April 14 (Off-Season

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Visitor Center/Museum hours

April 15-Oct. 31

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday

Nov. 1-April 14

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Swimming Beach hours

Beach closed for the season