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Why This Valley?

3/1/2019 to 4/30/2019 | Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site | Pilot Knob, MO

For the 2019 season, the historic site will be rotating six different themed displays of artifacts related to the site. Many of these are original artifacts that have never been on public display. Each themed display will be available for public viewing during regular business hours at the museum.

March and April will be themed "Why this Valley?" Long before there was an important Civil War battle fought in the Arcadia Valley, it was an important source of natural resources needed as a young nation grew and expanded into new territory. Vast deposits of iron ore and timber attracted miners, loggers and settlers beginning in the early 1800s. Later, quarries to mine the distinctive red granite were opened to supply St. Louis and other large cities with paving stones and other building materials. The historic site has in its library numerous interesting artifacts pertaining to this valley's natural resources and their use in the 1800s and early 1900s. The artifacts will be on display and staff will be available to explain and interpret the artifacts.

Click here to read the news release. 

Upcoming displays will be:
May-June “Dropped and Found” During the heat of battle all sorts of items were dropped and then later “found.”
July-August “Guess what it is”  We have several unique items pertaining to the battle and the history of the valley that will be on display. Visitors can take time to venture a guess as to what they are and what they were used for.
September-October  “Before the Fort”  Highlighting Native American life in the valley before European settlement.
November-December  “Remembering the past” Highlighting the battle participant reunions and picnics, which kept the memory of the battle alive and also the latter activities developing the museum and the distinctive reenactments.

This 2019 rotating exhibit event will include a reward for visitors who visit all six of the exhibits over the 2019 season. We will have an event passport, which can document attendance at the exhibits. The first five people to turn in completed passports showing attendance to all six exhibits will receive a VIP pass to the September 2020 reenactment. The pass will include VIP seating and parking at the event as well as other incentives. Everyone turning in a completed passport after the first five have been awarded will be placed in a random drawing for two additional VIP passes to be drawn in January 2020. 

Museum Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
118 E. Maple, Pilot Knob, MO | 573-546-3454