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Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center

at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park

people looking at displays relating to Native Americans inside the visitor centerAccessible Symbol

 

On your way into Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park, stop by Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center for a short orientation of the park. Pick up site brochures and a map and visit the gift shop. Entrance to the cultural center and the park is free. Plan to spend time viewing both permanent and temporary displays that interpret the cultural history of the nine tribes that called Missouri home in the early 19th century.

These tribes include the Otoe-Missouria, Osage, Delaware, Ioway, Ilini-Peoria, Kanza, Kickapoo, Sac and Fox, and Shawnee. In addition, you can learn all about William Clark, superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1813. There is a large display of early maps of North America depicting early European exploration and contact with American Indian tribes. Temporary displays also interpret various cultural and natural aspects of American Indians, Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park, and Missouri.

There are personal audio guides available for you to check out at the front desk at no cost. As you walk through the cultural center, these handheld wands provide brief historical accounts of the nine tribes and several American Indian legends.

A 10-minute video presentation begins with the geology of the area, followed by the life of the Missouria Indians, their early contact with Europeans, and their eventual demise. The presentation also focuses on the early settlement of the area by the Vanmeter (historical spelling) family and the development of the park, including the work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Staff at the park offers a variety of cultural and natural interpretive programs for your class or group. 

Hours

April through September (on-season)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

October through March (off-season)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday

Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday

Closed Monday through Friday (except holiday Mondays)

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Coordinates

39.258817, -93.261933

Park Hours

For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, click here to visit our Park and Site Status Map.


On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day.  

Park Grounds

  • 8 a.m. to sunset, daily
Lake Woolridge Road
  • November through March
    The road to Lake Wooldridge is closed.

Park Office hours

Please note that there will be times when the office is temporarily closed while staff are working on the grounds. The office telephone is monitored for messages during office hours.

April through September (on-season)

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday and Thursday through Saturday

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

October through March (off-season)

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday and Thursday through Saturday

Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center hours

April through September (on-season)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

October through March (off-season)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday

Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday

Closed Monday through Friday (except holiday Mondays)

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day.