St. Louis area state parks and historic sites offer array of free activities in August

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 28, 2025 – Be sure to check out these free activities at St. Louis area state parks and historic sites.

• Saturday, Aug. 2, at 4 p.m. – Dark Sky Wonders at Washington State Park.
  • Petroglyph tour – 4 p.m. at the petroglyph site.
    Tour the petroglyphs, the park's history carved in stone. Learn about these Mississippian-era carvings, the culture and community that created them and possible interpretations. Enjoy a short stroll on a covered walkway with interpretive panels highlighting the cultural features.
  • Solar System Sensory Bags – 6 p.m. in the Big River Day-Use Area.
    Put together a sensory craft with a key to memorize the planets according to their appearance. This interactive program is intended for children but open to all.
  • Stargazing – 9 p.m. in the Big River Day-Use Area.
    Come out to the field in the Big River Day-Use Area to view the stars in our designated dark sky park, far away from city light pollution. A telescope will be available for a better view. You are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and are welcome to bring viewing instruments of your own.

Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.

• Saturday, Aug. 9, at 6 p.m. – Celestial Showers: Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing Event at Washington State Park.
  Join the park team for a fun night under a starry sky to view the Perseid meteor shower and participate in various astronomy-related activities. At 6 p.m., meet park staff at Shelter #2 in the Big River Day-Use Area in the park at 13041 State Highway 104 9n De Soto. There, participants will be able to check out cool displays and pamphlets about the meteor shower and other astronomy topics and participate in celestial-themed games.
  
  Around 7 p.m., guests transition to toasting marshmallows around a campfire making s'mores and listening to star stories from around the world. As the sky grows completely dark, view the night sky through a telescope, and disperse to view the meteor shower on your own in the open field in the Big River Day-Use Area.
   
• Sunday, Aug. 10, at noon – Statehood Day at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site.
  Join First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site to commemorate the 204th birthday of our great state! The historic First Capitol will be open for self-guided tours, and there will be a scavenger hunt and other family-friendly activities in the backyard! Plus, enjoy a piece of Missouri birthday cake while supplies last. This walk-up-style event is free and open to the public. There is no registration, and you are welcome to browse and stay as long as you like. Visit the site at 200 S. Main St. in downtown St. Charles.
   
• Thursdays, Aug. 14, and Aug. 28, at 10 a.m. – Toddler Thursdays at Mastodon State Historic Site.
  Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site. The Toddler Thursday programs are designed for toddlers and their grown-ups. Each session focuses on a different topic and includes a story and a craft. There is no need to register; just show up to the museum auditorium located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial, and enjoy.
  Upcoming program topics:
  • Aug. 14: mushrooms
  • Aug. 28: frogs
     
• Saturday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. – Chorus of Insects at Washington State Park.
  • Petroglyph tour – 2 p.m. at the petroglyph site.
    Tour the petroglyphs, the park's history carved in stone. Learn about these Mississippian-era carvings, the culture and community that created them and possible interpretations. Enjoy a short stroll on a covered walkway with interpretive panels highlighting the cultural features.
  • Players in the Insect Orchestra – 4 p.m. at Thunderbird Lodge.
    Learn about insects that make music. Why do they make the sounds that they do? How do different insects produce different noises? Discover various insect sound-making methods and choose from several different crafts to create an instrument that mimics your favorite insect sound.
  • River Bottom Insect Song Walk – 7 p.m. at the 1,000 Steps Trail trailhead.
    Stroll along the river bottom with the park team to listen for insect music. See how many distinct insect voices you can identify.

Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.

• Friday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m. – Outdoor Classroom: Wildlife Rehabilitation at Washington State Park.
  Join the team at the park’s amphitheater, 3041 State Highway 104 in De Soto, to learn about the importance of wildlife rehabilitation and how you can support local rehabilitation efforts.
   
• Saturday, Aug. 23, at 2 p.m. – Missouri Streams and Aquatic Life at Washington State Park.
  Join us at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto to explore Missouri streams and the aquatic life found within.
  • Petroglyph tour – 2 p.m. at the petroglyph site.
    First, tour the petroglyphs, the park's history carved in stone! Learn about these Mississippian-era carvings, the culture and community that created them, and possible interpretations. Enjoy a short stroll on a covered walkway with interpretive panels highlighting the cultural features.
  • Stream Team Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – 4 p.m. in the Big River Day-Use Area.
    Participate in a demonstration of how Missouri stream researchers monitor water quality. Use dragnets to catch aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Big River, and then sort and identify these fascinating creatures. Learn how macroinvertebrates serve as good indicators of stream quality, and find out how we can work together to keep Missouri streams clean.
  • Catfish of Missouri – 7 p.m. at the campground amphitheater.
    Learn about the different species, where they live, what they eat and how they behave. Plus, see photos of some impressively large catfish and make a catfish windsock to take home with you!

Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.

• Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. – Mo-Tell Storyteller Program: Flavia Everman at Robertsville State Park.
  Join Flavia Everman near the park's campground shower house, 902 State Park Drive in Robertsville, for an exciting trip around the world through her storytelling. Flavia will share stories for all ages about the natural world, astronomy and myths and legends. This program is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Parking is available near the shower house and in other areas of the campground. Seating will be limited, so you may want to bring a chair or blanket.
   
• Saturday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. – Labor Day: A Look into Mining History at Washington State Park.
  • Mining Minerals Display Table – 2 p.m. at Thunderbird Lodge.
    View an interactive mining display featuring minerals that were commonly mined in the area. Hear about the historical mining of iron ore, copper ore, tiff and galena mined in and around the park, as well as some of the ways in which the mining industry has impacted local people, land and commerce.
  • Furnace Field Trip – 4 p.m. at the Thunderbird Lodge.
    Meet at the Thunderbird Lodge for a tour of the nearby historic iron furnace. Take a short bus ride to the Murphy furnace site, just south of the main park property and then walk about half a mile to view the furnace. See the incredible masonry that has withstood the test of time, and hear stories about the miners who lived in the boardinghouse that once stood here.
  • Campfire, S'mores and Mining Stories – 7 p.m. in front of the old shower house.
    Listen to stories of local miners. Learn about the mining history of the park and the surrounding community. Meet at the old shower house near the campground entrance.

Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.

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