Missouri | State Parks

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge (Puxico)

Located in the upper end of the lower Mississippi River valley, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, at 21, 676 acres, is the only large remnant of bottomland hardwoods remaining out of an original 2 1/2 million acres in the Missouri bootheel. A major migration and wintering area for migratory waterfowl, populations of 125, 000 mallards and 75, 000 Canada geese have been recorded. Bald eagles have been successively nesting on the refuge since 1985.

Harry S Truman Dam And Reservoir (Warsaw)

Located adjacent to the Lake of the Ozarks or a short drive north of Branson, Truman features excellent fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and boating opportunities. Truman Lake also offers a regional visitor center and powerplant exhibit area. Rugged hills, scenic bluffs, hardwood forest and prairie offer some of the best scenery in the State.

Smithville Lake (Smithville)

Within 30 minutes of downtown Kansas City, this 7, 190-acre lake offers city and county operated water-related recreation facilities including a regional visitor center and an 36-hole golf course. This area is along the Lewis and Clark route.For more information on the recreational facilities and opportunities, visit the Clay County web site at http://www.claycogov.com/text/Parks/#parks .

Stockton Lake (Stockton)

Stockton Lake, one of the Ozarks best kept secrets, is located on the Sac River in Southwest Missouri, tucked into the foothills of the scenic Ozark Mountain range. Its pristine waters are home to several species of fish, including small and largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, catfish, and sunfish, to name a few. In addition to great fishing, Stockton Lake is a popular choice for the sailing enthusiast.

Longview Lake (Kansas City)

Longview Lake Park is a part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Blue River Project for flood control, recreation and other water resource development. Opened to the public in 1986, Longview Lake Park records over 1, 000, 000 visitors annually. This park complex contains a large number of recreational features, managed by Jackson County. Visit their web site at: http://www.jacksongov.org/rec_lb_ll.

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge (Lawrence County)

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge, located twenty miles west of Springfield in Lawrence County, MO, was acquired in 1991 to protect a Federally endangered species, the Ozark cavefish. Turnback Creek Cave Spring is located on this property and is the outlet of an underground stream known to contain a population of the endangered Ozark cavefish. Access to the stream is gained via Turnback cave, which has openings on adjacent property owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Clarence Cannon Dam And Mark Twain Lake (Monroe City)

Offers a blend of picturesque natural resources and modern recreation facilities to suit everyone. Features the largest hydropower generating plant in Northeast Missouri.

Rivers Project (Riverlands) - Upper Mississippi River (West Alton)

The Rivers Project is responsible for the operation and maintenance of five dams and seven locks, 300 miles of dikes and revetment and 110, 000 acres of public lands and waters for the authorized purpose of maintaining a nine-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River, and the lower 80 miles of the Illinois River.

Wappapello Lake (Wappapello)

The natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains combined with numerous recreation facilities makes Wappapello Lake a place for everyone to enjoy. Whether it is camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, hunting, or just relaxing for the day, Wappapello Lake has what interests you.

Table Rock Lake (Branson)

Winding through the valleys of the Ozark Mountains, from Branson, Missouri to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Table Rock Lake is a paradise for boaters, scuba divers, campers and fishermen alike. Camping enthusiasts choose from 13 modern campgrounds located adjacent to the lake. Full-service marinas provide sevice and convenience to boaters.

Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (St. Louis)

Established as a unit of the National Park Service in 1990, the park commemorates the life, military career, and Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, as well as his wife Julia Dent Grant. The site, also known as White Haven, consists of 9.65 acres holding five historic structures (main house, stone building, barn, chicken house, and ice house).

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge (Iron County)

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located on top of Pilot Knob Mountain in Iron County, MO. It was acquired by donation from the Pilot Knob Ore Company on July 22, 1987 for conservation purposes. The 90-acre refuge contains iron mine shafts created in the mid-1800s which are critical habitat for the Federally endangered Indiana bat. Bats enter the shafts in the fall to hibernate and exit in the spring.

American National Fish and Wildlife Museum: Wonders of Wild (Springfield)

The American National Fish and Wildlife Museum, Wonders of Wildlife, is a $52 million, 92, 000-square-foot museum celebrating man?s interaction with nature and our responsibility to manage wildlife resources. The museum features more than 160 species of live animals.

Long Branch Lake (MACON)

This lake offers beautiful shoreline vistas and abundant hunting and fishing opportunities. Long Branch State Park provides a variety of water-related recreation opportunities.

Blue Springs Lake (KANSAS CITY)

Blue Springs Lake is a part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Blue River Project for flood control, recreation and other water resource development. This park complex contains a large number of recreational features, managed by Jackson County. For more information, visit their web site at: http://www.jacksongov.org/rec_lb_bs.shtml Located in Fleming Park, Blue Spring Lake offers 720 acres of water excitement.

Clearwater Lake (PIEDMONT)

Clearwater Lake is noted for the grandeur of its hills, natural springs, and splendid beauty. The absence of private boat docks appeals to those seeking a *wilderness lake*. A skier*s paradise, Clearwater Lake, has acres of smooth, deep water for sport.Many boaters enjoy taking their vessels onto the main portion of the lake to try their luck at catching a few of the many bass, crappie, bream and catfish, which lurk beneath the waters.

Mark Twain National Forest (Rolla)

Located in southern Missouri, lies the Mark Twain National Forest. The Forest lies mostly within the Ozark Plateau dotted with remnant hills from this country's oldest mountains, the Ozarks. It is the only National Forest in the State, encompassing 1, 487, 009 acres.

Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge (Columbia)

The Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is growing. Established in 1994, the refuge has grown to 10, 400 acres. Like pearls on a string, these acres are spread out as individual units along the Missouri River between Kansas City and St. Louis. These pearls of habitat benefit floodplain-dependent fish and wildlife species.

Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge (Annada)

The 3750-acre Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the Mississippi River. Although it is protected by a levee, the refuge provides flood storage in periods of high water. Refuge habitats include managed wetland units, semi-permanent and permanent marshes, bottomland hardwood forests, and native grasslands. The pumping station allows for water management on all wetland units, semi-permanent marshes, and green tree reservoirs (bottomland forests with large, cavity-ridden trees).

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Mound City)

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwestern Missouri within the historic Missouri River floodplain. The 7, 350-acre refuge was established in 1935 as a resting, feeding, and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Many of the original facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s.

Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Sumner)

Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order 7563 on February 27, 1937. Purchase of 10, 670 acres began at that time. Following purchase of land, the Civilian Conservation Corps began work on the refuge creating wetlands, constructing roads and buildings, and initiating the refuge farming program. The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide nesting, resting, and feeding areas for waterfowl, primarily ducks.

Rivers Project (Riverlands) - Lower Illinois River (West Alton)

Rivers Project (Riverlands) - Lower Mississippi River (West Alton)

Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Van Buren)

Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created by an Act of Congress on August 24, 1964, to protect 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. The clean, clear waters of these two beautiful rivers provide excellent opportunities for johnboating, canoeing, swimming, fishing and tubing. Hunting is also an authorized use within the Riverways' boundaries. The landscape is predominantly rural, with broadleaf forests and occasional open fields.

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (Republic)

The battle fought here on August 10, 1861, was the first major Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River, involving about 5, 400 Union troops and 12, 000 Confederates. Although a Confederate victory, the Southerners failed to capitalize on their success. The battle led to greater federal military activity in Missouri, and set the stage for the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862.

George Washington Carver National Monument (Diamond)

George Washington Carver's boyhood home consists of rolling hills, woodlands, and prairies. The 210 acre park has a 3/4 mile nature trail, museum, and an interactive exhibit area for students. The cultural setting includes the 1881 Historic Moses Carver house and the Carver cemetery.

Great River National Wildlife Refuge (Annada)

The Great River National Wildlife Refuge protects approximately 11, 600 acres along 120 miles of the Mississippi River, stretching north of St. Louis, Missouri. Three separate units are located in the floodplain, on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. The Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge is also under the administration of the Great River Refuge. Great River Refuge, in turn, is part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge complex.

Pomme De Terre Lake (Hermitage)

Cool, clear spring waters make this lake the "Gem of the Ozarks.

NARA's Central Plains Region - Kansas City (Kansas City)

Genealogy ResearchThe Kansas City facility has extensive microfilm holdings of value for genealogy research, among them: Federal population censuses for all States, 1790-1930; indexes for the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses (indexes are not available for all census years and all states); selected military service records and indexes; selected pension and bounty-land warrant applications; censuses and land allotment files for Native Americans.

NARA's St. Louis - Civilian National Personnel Record Center (St. Louis)

CPR houses the Official Personnel Folders (OPF) and Employee Medical Folders (EMF) of separated Federal civilian employees. CPR also houses personnel documents that date back to the mid-nineteenth century, although the bulk of the collection covers the period from 1900 to present. The medical records of military family members treated at Army, Air Force and Coast Guard medical facilities are also stored here. How do I get information from my civilian personnel records?

NARA's Central Plains Region - Lee's Summit, MO (Lee's Summit)

Access to Bankruptcy and Other Court Case Files at NARA's Central Plains Region (Lee's Summit, MO)The Lee's Summit facility makes available for review closed business and personal bankruptcy case files, and civil and criminal case files from Federal courts in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To review and obtain copies of court case files, choose from the following options.

Recreation Finder