Park Information
State park and historic site day-use areas, lodging, campgrounds, boat ramps and trails continue to operate under normal off-season hours. Missouri State Parks has implemented a number of measures designed to maintain required social distancing and protect visitors, volunteers and staff, including the closure of visitor centers, nature centers, offices and museums. The latest information from Missouri State Parks on COVID-19 can be found here. A full list of temporary closures can be found here.
Battle of Athens State Historic Site is a place of peace and serenity. Its historic buildings, tree-studded landscape and mile of Des Moines River frontage make the site a perfect place to hike, picnic or camp. But today’s peace belies the site’s history as the place where the northernmost battle fought west of the Mississippi occurred, when about 500 Union soldiers repelled nearly four times their number of pro-Southern State Guardsmen. The site includes interpretation and tours of the battlefield as well as a number of historic buildings, including one that was pierced by a cannonball during the battle.
