JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 18, 2023 – If you’re in the Missouri State Parks St. Louis region, be sure to check out these activities at state parks and historic sites.

  • Assembled skeleton of a mastodon surrounded by a representation of it's habitat at Mastodon State Historic Site.
    Tuesday, Sept. 19: “What is Archaeology?” program at Mastodon State Historic Site
    September is Missouri Archaeology Month! Expand your knowledge of archaeology at the “What is archaeology?” table. Interpretive team members will provide information about Missouri archaeology and previous excavations conducted at the park. Participants will also be able to try their hand at excavating – and eat a tasty snack – in our chocolate chip cookie excavation activity. Participants can attend any time between 5 and 7 p.m., and registration is not required. The cookie excavation will be available while supplies last. Interpreters will not identifying artifacts at this event. Meet at the site’s playground at the picnic area, located at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial.
     
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20: Fall Bash - S’mores and More at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Eat s’mores while learning about the fall equinox and upcoming programs at the site. Participants can come talk with park team members any time between 5 and 7 p.m. at the site’s shelter in the picnic area, located at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial. S’mores will be available while supplies last.
     
  • Thursday, Sept. 21: Little Archaeologists at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Bring your little archaeologist to the first Toddle Thursday! Participants will make art, play and learn about archaeology. Meet in the museum auditorium at 10 a.m. at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. Preregistration is encouraged and can be done by visiting icampmo.com and searching for activities at Mastodon State Historic Site.
     
  • Thursday, Sept. 21: Public Meeting at Don Robinson State Park
    Come to the town hall-style public meeting that will provide updates on the park, and representatives will answer any questions you may have. Meet at park’s the day-use area at 6 p.m. Don Robinson State Park is located at 9275 Byrnesville Road in Cedar Hill.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 23: National Public Lands Day at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park
    Celebrate National Public Lands Day by helping remove invasive bush honeysuckle at the park. All tools and herbicides will be provided. Meet at the park’s visitor center at 10 a.m. to head out and work along Virginia Day Trail. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park is located at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 23: Archaeology Day at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Celebrate Missouri Archaeology Month on Saturday, Sept. 23 starting at 9 a.m. Free events will take place throughout the day, including free museum admission, an archaeology scavenger hunt and atlatl demonstrations. Participants can also visit the Missouri Archaeological Society, Three Rivers Chapter’s tent, where charter members will show artifact collections, identify artifacts and lead children’s activities. All activities are free and will take place in and around the museum, located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. The atlatl demonstrations, Missouri Archaeology Society tent and guided hikes are scheduled to take place outside and are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.
    • At 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., interpreters will lead a guided hike to the bone bed. Participants will walk along the half-mile Wildflower Trail and learn about the excavations that were conducted in the site.
    • At 10 a.m., families are invited to join children’s story time, designed for children between the ages of 4 and 6.
    • At noon, guests can listen to an archaeology lecture that will give a broad overview of local archaeology from 14,000 B.C.E. to 1200 C.E.
       
  • Saturday, Sept. 23: Public Meeting at Mastodon State Historic Site
    This town hall-style public meeting will encompass Mastodon, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge and Gov. Daniel Dunklin’s Grave state historic sites. Representatives from these sites will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. The public is invited to share comments. The meeting begins at 2 p.m. in the museum auditorium, located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. 
     
  • Sunday, Sept. 24: Geologic Eras Tour at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Participants will travel back in time and explore the different geological eras. During this half-mile walk, 550 million years of planetary and evolutionary history will be covered. This to-scale hike will inform visitors about the chronological relationship between major geological events, mass extinctions and the evolution of various species. This program starts at 2 p.m. and will take place along Wildflower Trail, a looped trail with stairs and uneven ground. Space is limited and registration is required. Visit icampmo.com to sign up. Mastodon State Historic Site is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
     
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27: Public Meeting at Castlewood State Park
    The public is invited to an open house-style public meeting for Castlewood State Park. Starting at 5 p.m., representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions about the park. The meeting will take place at the park’s Shelter #2, located at 1401 Kiefer Creek Road in Ballwin.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 30: Old Mine Open House at Missouri Mines State Historic
    Site From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the public is invited to honor mine workers of Missouri’s Old Lead Belt region. Retired miners and other lead company workers are invited to attend the event, meet with others and visit with attendees about their experiences. There will be activities for the kids, too, including a mineral identification sand table and a mine car shovel contest. Storyteller Eric Haynes will present at special program. The event takes place at the site’s Powerhouse Museum, which will be open for free guided tours on the hour from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Visitors can also explore the exhibits on their own. The historic site is located at 4000 State Highway 32 in Park Hills.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 30: Public Meeting at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park
    A town hall-style public meeting will begin at 2 p.m., where visitors will be able to meet park representatives and ask questions about the operations there. The meeting will take place in the Visitor Center at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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