Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watkins Mill State Park and Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site |
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Watkins Mill
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 Watkins Mill State Park and Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site
Location in Missouri
Watkins Mill State Park and Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lawson, Clay, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 1,500.22 acres (6.0712 km2) |
| Elevation | 896 ft (273 m) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Visitors | 520,728 (in 2017) |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Watkins Mill State Park |
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Watkins Mill
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The Octagonal Schoolhouse at Watkins Mill
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| Nearest city | Excelsior Springs, Missouri |
| Area | 560 acres (230 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architect | Waltus Watkins |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000416 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | September 28, 1983 |
Watkins Mill is a cool old factory and park located in Lawson, Missouri. It's a special place because it has a perfectly preserved woolen mill from the mid-1800s. This mill is protected as the Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site. It keeps all its original machines and business records safe.
The site is so well-preserved that it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. This means it's a really important place in American history! The historic site is also part of the bigger Watkins Mill State Park, which is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Contents
The Story of Watkins Mill
How It All Started
Back in 1839, a man named Waltus L. Watkins started a large farm. He called it Bethany Plantation. It was about 80 acres and focused on raising animals.
A few years later, between 1859 and 1860, Watkins built the famous mill. He also built houses for the people who worked there. This created one of the first planned communities in North America! The community was very self-sufficient. The mill made its own yarn and wool cloth.
The Mill's Busy Years
The mill was very busy until 1886. That was two years after Waltus Watkins passed away. After 1886, the amount of cloth produced slowly went down. What's amazing is that almost all the mill's original machines are still there! This includes a powerful 65-horsepower steam engine that ran the whole factory.
Other Historic Buildings
The site also has the original Watkins family house. This house was built in 1850. It has twelve rooms and three staircases. The main staircase is decorated with beautiful carved walnut wood. The Watkins family lived in this house until 1945.
There's also a unique building called the Franklin School, or Octagonal School. It was built in 1856. This school had eight sides, which was very unusual! The Watkins family and their workers used it until the mid-1870s. After that, it became a home for mill workers. The school was made from bricks produced right there on Watkins' land.
The Watkins family also gave land for the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. This church was built in 1871. It replaced an older church made of logs from the 1850s. Waltus Watkins himself donated more than half of the $5000 needed to build the new church.
Becoming a State Park
Over time, the property changed owners a few times. Finally, in 1964, the state of Missouri took it over. They created a large state park that is about 1,442 acres. In 1980, the mill was also named a National Mechanical Engineering Historic Landmark. This shows how important its old machines are!
Fun at Watkins Mill State Park
Outdoor Activities
Watkins Mill State Park is a great place for outdoor fun! It has 96 campsites, and most of them have electricity. Many campsites are open all year round.
There's a big 100-acre lake perfect for fishing. You can catch bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish there. The lake also has a large sandy beach where you can go swimming.
Trails for Everyone
If you like to bike or walk, there's a 3.8-mile paved trail. It follows the edge of the lake, offering nice views. There's also a separate 3.5-mile trail just for horseback riding.
Images for kids
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Watkins Mill
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The Octagonal Schoolhouse at Watkins Mill
