Park Information
As of Wednesday, June 24, Mastodon State Historic Site is open for the public with recommended safety precautions and social distancing measures in place. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The museum will only accept credit and debit for payment. Cash donations may be placed in the donations box. For more information on the health and safety measures in place, visit https://mostateparks.com/response.
Mastodon State Historic Site contains an important archaeological and paleontological site – the Kimmswick Bone Bed. Here, scientists discovered the first solid evidence of the coexistence of humans and the American mastodon in eastern North America.
Today, visitors can learn about this discovery and how the landscape of Missouri looked in pre historic time. The site features a museum with an interpretive video, displays of ancient artifacts and fossils, and an impressive mastodon skeleton replica. Programs explain more about the significance of the site.
For anyone wanting to stretch their legs, the site offers three trails, including one that leads to the site where the bones and artifacts were found. The park also offers picnic sites, a picnic shelter, a playground, a special-use area for organized youth groups, and a wildflower garden that attracts birds and butterflies.
