State Parks and National Parks

Mastodon State Historic Site contains the Kimmswick Bone Bed, a paleontological site where scientists first discovered a stone weapon with the bones of American mastodons.

Archaeological excavations established that Paleo-Indians hunted the American mastodon and other animals here during the Ice Age. The museum displays ancient artifacts, fossils and a mastodon skeleton replica. A short audio-visual program is offered every 30 minutes.

The 425-acre site is open for day-use activities, including picnicking and hiking.

The Spring Branch Trail offers an easy three-quarter-mile walk along a small creek flowing from Bollefer Spring. The water from the spring keeps the stream’s temperature constant year-round, promoting an abundant growth of watercress.

The Limestone Hill Trail is a steep and rough two-mile hike that heads along an old limestone bluff, past an old quarry and through a maturing forest of red, white and chinquapin oak, shagbark hickory, hackberry and eastern red cedar. In spring, the hillside is bright with dogwood, redbud and serviceberry.

The half-mile trail from the museum to the bone bed passes through a wildflower area, across an old quarry and down a limestone bluff and talus slope. These trails are not wheelchair-accessible.

Although a regular campground for individual campers is not available, an area with limited facilities is open to organized groups, such as scouts, for a small fee.

Nearby state parks that offer individual campgrounds include Dr. Edmund E. Babler Memorial State Park, St. Francois State Park and Washington State Park.

The Charles Callison Memorial Bird Sanctuary, located adjacent to the museum, is an attractive habitat for a variety of birds year-round.

An entry fee is charged to the museum.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Missouri Department of Natural Resources.