Confederate Memorial State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Confederate Memorial State Historic Site |
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 Confederate Memorial State Historic Site
Location in Missouri
Confederate Memorial State Historic Site
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Higginsville, Missouri |
| Area | 135.22 acres (54.72 ha) |
| Established | 1952 |
| Visitors | 112,505 (in 2019) |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Confederate Memorial State Historic Site |
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Confederate Chapel, Cemetery and Cottage
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| Nearest city | Higginsville, Missouri |
| Area | 5.6 acres (2.3 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000335 |
| Added to NRHP | December 16, 1981 |
The Confederate Memorial State Historic Site is a special park in Missouri. It covers about 135 acres near Higginsville, Missouri. For many years, from 1891 to 1950, this place was a home for soldiers who fought for the Southern states in the American Civil War. These soldiers were called veterans of the Confederate States Army.
After the last veteran passed away in 1950, the state government took over. They turned the site into a state park. In 1981, some important buildings and the cemetery here were added to the National Register of Historic Places. These include a small house called a cottage, a chapel, and the cemetery. The chapel has a tall tower and a beautiful stained glass window. The cottage is a small wooden building. The cemetery has 723 graves. There is also a monument in the cemetery that looks like the Lion of Lucerne. This monument was put there by a group called the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Besides these historic spots, the park also has walking trails, picnic areas, and places to fish.
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Why Was This Place Created?
After the American Civil War ended, many soldiers who fought for the Southern states in Missouri faced tough times. Some had trouble getting medical help. Others were not allowed to vote. These veterans often met to talk about their problems.
At one meeting in Higginsville in 1889, they had an idea. They wanted to create a special home where older Confederate veterans could live and be cared for. In 1891, they bought about 365 acres of land near Higginsville for this home. Families of the veterans could also live there.
By 1897, the group running the home was running out of money. So, the state government stepped in to help. Even though the state helped pay, a group of Confederate veterans still managed the home. At its busiest time, the home had about 30 buildings and even made its own electricity.
Life at the Veterans' Home
Over the years, about 1,600 people lived at this home. They came from almost all the states that were part of the former Confederacy. There was a chapel on the grounds. In 1913, this chapel was moved. It was easier for the older veterans to get to it for religious services.
In 1925, Missouri set aside 92 acres of the home as a memorial to Confederate soldiers. The home kept running until 1950. That's when the very last Confederate veteran in Missouri passed away. After that, the state government bought the entire site. They wanted to run it as a state park.
Becoming a State Park
The state finished buying the land in 1952. In 1954, most of the old buildings in the park were taken down. For a while, starting in 1956, parts of the site were used for storage by a local school. The chapel was even managed by a different state department until 1977.
On December 16, 1981, the park was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed as "Confederate Chapel, Cemetery and Cottage." At that time, the chapel was in good shape. The cottage needed more repairs. The cottage was still in its original spot. The chapel had been moved twice. It was moved in 1913 and then moved back to its original spot in 1978.
In the 2000s, there was a change in what flags could be flown at state parks. A flag that represented the Confederacy was removed. Now, only the United States flag and the flag of Missouri can be flown. When the site was a veterans' home, the Confederate flag was displayed, but not flown. There have been discussions about other historical monuments. But there hasn't been much talk about changing the name of this park. Some people think this is because it was a home for veterans, which makes it less controversial.
What Can You See and Do Here?
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources takes care of the 135.22 acres at this site. In 2019, over 112,505 people visited the park. The park has 11 buildings and about 2.32 miles of roads. Most of the buildings are in the northwest part of the park.
Visitors can explore the historic chapel, the park cemetery, and three other buildings. There are also picnic areas, walking trails, and ponds where you can go fishing. Only 5.6 acres of the park are part of the National Register of Historic Places listing.
The park's chapel is not perfectly square. One side is 44 feet long, the opposite side is 52 feet long, and the other two sides are 34 feet long. It has a tower and a stained glass window. The outside is covered with weatherboard. People can even hold weddings in the chapel.
The Confederate cemetery in the park has 723 graves. Some graves have two people buried in them. Most of the grave markers are simple. But a few are very fancy. A monument that looks like the Lion of Lucerne is in the cemetery. The United Daughters of the Confederacy put it there in 1906. It says, "In Memoriam OUR CONFEDERATE DEAD." There's also a plaque on the monument with a picture of Robert E. Lee. A religious message is carved below the lion.
The cottage is a wooden building. It sits on a brick foundation. Its roof is covered with shingles. It is shaped like a rectangle.
