Activities

  • Historic Site Tours

    Tours of the Thome Benning Home are free. Click here for more information.

  • camping

    Basic and electric campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information.

  • hiking

    Enjoy the natural features of the historic site on one of two hiking trails. Click here for more information.

  • picnicking

    For a quiet picnic lunch or a group gathering, you can choose from three picnic areas. Click here for more information.

  • Interpretive Programs

    Interpretive programs are offered at the historic site for schools, groups and organizations. Click here for more information.

  • fishing

    Anglers have been successful in recent years fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, redear sunfish and channel catfish.

  • boating

    Gain access to the 10-acre lake with your boat or canoe at the gravel boat launch. Only electric trolling motors are allowed.

  • Playground

    A playground sits alongside some picnic sites in the day-use area.

Park information

Battle of Athens Historic Site is a place of peace and serenity. Its historic buildings, tree-studded landscape, and mile of Des Moines River frontage make the site a perfect place to hike, picnic or camp. But today’s peace belies the site’s history as the place where the most northern battle fought west of the Mississippi occurred, when about 500 Union soldiers repelled nearly four times their number of pro-Southern State Guardsmen. The site includes interpretation and tours of the battlefield as well as a number of historic buildings, including one that was pierced by a cannonball during the battle.

See video

Park Hours

Historic Site Grounds:

  • April through October
    Sunrise to 10 p.m.
  • November through March
    Sunrise to sunset

Park Office hours

  • April through October
    8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily
  • November through March
    Office not regularly staffed; telephone is monitored for messages Monday through Friday

Thome-Benning House (Cannonball House) hours

Tours:

  • April through October
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • November through March
    Available by prior arrangement only