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Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site
573-748-5340

	At a glance... P.O. Box 308 New Madrid, MO 63869	573-748-5340
	Acreage: 19.80 Year Acquired: 1967 Activities: tours

In southeast Missouri's Bootheel sits a majestic mansion. This mansion, Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site, illustrates the grand lifestyle once enjoyed by one of southeast Missouri's wealthy families during the late 1800s.

William and Amanda Hunter ran successful family enterprises in the thriving Mississippi River town of New Madrid, including a dry goods store and a floating store used to peddle goods to other towns. In 1859, they began planning their home, which took nearly a year to complete. William died before the house was complete, but Amanda and her seven children moved into the house in 1860-61. Upon Amanda's death in 1876, the Hunter's youngest daughter, Ella, and her husband William Dawson, a Missouri and United States legislator, moved into the house. Descendents of the Hunter family occupied the house continually until 1958.

The city of New Madrid purchased the 15-room mansion in 1966 and one year later donated it to the state. Today, visitors can take guided tours of the home, which is restored to the 1860-1880 period and features nine fireplaces. Most of the original furnishings purchased by Amanda Hunter remain, including a large collection of Mitchell and Rammelsberg furniture.