Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site - Pilot Knob, MO
Posted by: YoSam.
N 37° 37.272 W 090° 38.351
15S E 708350 N 4166408
I guess you would call this a day park...
Waymark Code: WM116WM
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 08/27/2019
Views: 2
County of park: Iron County
Location of park: MO Hwy W, just E. of old MO hwy 21, Pilot Knob
Phone: 573-546-3454 or
1-800-334-6946
NUMBER OF ACRES: 77.4
NUMBER OF STRUCTURES: 6
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS PRESENTED:* 41
"Today, the Arcadia Valley in Iron County is a peaceful setting in one of Missouri’s most scenic areas. But in September 1864, the valley was the scene of one of the largest and most hard-fought battles waged on the state’s soil—the Battle of Pilot Knob. During the battle, Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price led an army of 8,000 men against the Union post of Fort Davidson at Pilot Knob.
"Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site preserves Fort Davidson and the battlefield where so many Confederate and Union soldiers lost their lives. A visitor center and museum interprets the conflict with exhibits, audiovisual presentations and a fiber optics diorama of the battle. The site’s playground, picnic area and hiking trail provide relaxing ways to spend the afternoon.
VISITORS CENTER:
You feel a sense of dignity as you look upon the visitor center, which is a shrine to those who fought here. This building was designed to be accessible. Two handicap parking spaces are located adjacent to a continuous concrete pathway that leads you to a plaza with benches and on up to the entrance. Just inside the door is the first exciting exhibit...a restored six-pounder cannon. To your left are accessible restrooms and a water fountain.
As you follow the tourist assistant into the museum, you pass by a very scenic view of the fort battlements. All along the walls are interpretive exhibits that lead to an audio-visual room for a 22-minute presentation. After the presentation, you are treated to an eight-minute "automated battle map." This exhibit shows how the different commands maneuvered while you listen to the historic battle. Afterwards, follow the field interpretive stations laid out on the field as you head to the fort.
"PICNIC AREA
The picnic area has a large parking lot with two handicap spaces and three covered individual picnic sites with paved pathways. Four group shelters are also available. Shelter 1 provides a group grill, an electrical outlet and seating for 35 people. Shelters 2, 3 and 4 accommodate 20 people. All four are accessible. The area also contains a playground, which has Kiddie Mulch as a base. The nearby restroom is mostly accessible, but some may need assistance.
"EXERCISE TRAIL
Brogran’s Trail is a 0.50-mile trail, fully asphalted, that has several exercise stations situated along it. There are gentle slopes and the only hazard may be that it can be partially flooded at times by a nearby creek. " ~ Missouri Department of Natural Resources