Meramec State Park
A stalactiflat in Fisher Cave
Map showing the location of Meramec State Park
Map showing the location of Meramec State Park
Location in Missouri
Map showing the location of Meramec State Park
Map showing the location of Meramec State Park
Meramec State Park (the United States)
LocationFranklin, Crawford, and Washington counties, Missouri, United States
Coordinates38°12′24″N 91°6′9″W / 38.20667°N 91.10250°W / 38.20667; -91.10250
Area6,896.33 acres (27.9085 km2)[1]
Elevation571 ft (174 m)[2]
Established1927[3]
Visitors676,859 (in 2017)[1]
Governing bodyMissouri Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteMeramec State Park
Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower
Nearest citySullivan, Missouri
AreaLess than one acre
Builtc. 1934 (1934)
Built byCCC; NPS
Architectural styleRustic
MPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR
NRHP reference No.85000530
Added to NRHPFebruary 28, 1985
Meramec State Park Pump House
Nearest citySullivan, Missouri
AreaLess than one acre
Built1934 (1934)
Built byCCC; NPS
Architectural styleRustic
MPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR
NRHP reference No.85000531
Added to NRHPFebruary 28, 1985
Meramec State Park Shelter House
Nearest citySullivan, Missouri
AreaLess than one acre
Built1935 (1935)
Built byCCC; NPS
Architectural styleRustic
MPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR
NRHP reference No.85000532
Added to NRHPFebruary 26, 1985
Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District
Nearest citySullivan, Missouri
AreaLess than one acre
Built byNational Park Service
Architectural styleRustic
MPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR
NRHP reference No.91001772
Added to NRHPDecember 6, 1991

Meramec State Park is a public recreation area located near Sullivan, Missouri, about 60 miles from St. Louis, along the Meramec River.[4] The park has diverse ecosystems such as hardwood forests and glades. There are over 40 caves located throughout the park, the bedrock is 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 (CCC) 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.[5]

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.[6]

Historic sites

Three surviving CCC-era structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985:

  • Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower: The rustic-style stone and trussed timber octagonal lookout tower was built about 1934.[5]: 339 
  • Meramec State Park Pump House: The rustic-style stone pump house (well house) on the Lodge Trail has a medium-pitched front-gable roof with small cupola. It was built in 1934.[5]: 343 
  • Meramec State Park Shelter House: The rustic-style shelter house on the Lodge Trail measures 12 feet by 16 feet and has a hipped roof supported by heavy wooden posts and brackets. It was built in 1935.[5]: 350 

In 1991, the Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District was also added to the list. The historic district encompasses four contributing buildings, three contributing structures, and one contributing object. They include the picnic shelter, stone restrooms, water fountain, pump house, and stone steps[7]: 5 

The bottom southeast corner of the park includes the old Hamilton Ironworks, after which the Ozarks fiddle tune Hamilton Ironworks is named.[8][9] The Hamilton Iron Works Trail has interpretive signage about the history the blast furnace that once operated "around the clock, seven days a week."[10]

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 an exhibit hall with a video presentation and information about the history and ecology of the area.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Meramec State Park: Data Sheet" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. November 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Meramec Park Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ↑ "State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Meramec State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  6. ↑ Watkins, Connor (2006). "The Meramec Basin Project: A Look Back 25 Years Later". Conor Watkins' Ozark Mountain Experience. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  7. ↑ Bonnie Stepenoff (June 1991). "Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 1, 2016. (includes 8 photographs from 1991)
  8. ↑ Lohraff, Kevin (2009). Map: Fisher Cave, Old Hamilton Ironworks. Human Kinetics. p. 139. ISBN 9780736075886. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "Trails at Meramec State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Visitor Center at Meramec State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
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