Mastodon State Historic Site | What’s happening in St. Louis

Mastodon State Historic Site

Address: 
1050 Charles J. Becker Drive
Imperial , MO , 63052-3524
Phone: (636) 464-2976
38° 22' 47.4528" N, 90° 23' 7.1844" W
Contact name: 
Missouri State Parks
What our organization offers: 
Subjects / Categories: 
Ages for which our activities are most appropriate: 
Mastodon State Historic Site is an archaeological and paleontological site in Imperial, MO containing the Kimmswick Bone Bed. Site contains a museum with a full-size mastodon replica, picnic area, several trails and a special-use campground.

Bones of mastodons and other now-extinct animals were first found here in the early 19th century. The area gained fame as one of the most extensive Pleistoceneice age deposits in the country and attracted scientific interest worldwide.


Drawing of a mastodon skeleton by Rembrandt Peale

Archaeological history was made at the site in 1979 when scientists excavated a stone spear point made by hunters of the Clovis culture (14,000 - 10,000 years ago) in direct association with mastodon bones. This was the first solid evidence of the coexistence of people and these giant prehistoric beasts.

Today, the 425-acre (1.7 km2) property preserves this National Register of Historic Places site and provides recreational opportunities. A museum tells the natural and cultural story of the oldest American Indian site one can visit in the state's park system. A full-size replica of a mastodon skeleton highlights the exhibits. A picnic area, several trails and a special-use campground offer chances to explore the land where the lives of Native Americans and mastodons once intertwined.

 

Park Hours

Historic Site Grounds

  • 8 a.m. to one-half hour after sunset, daily, year-round

Historic Site Office

  • 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday
  • 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday
  • Please note 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.

Museum hours

  • March 16 through Nov. 14
    9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday
    12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday (closed Easter Day)
  • Nov. 15 through March 15
    11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday
    Closed Tuesday-Thursday
    11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday
    12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday
    Closed New Year's, Thanksgiving and Christmas days

Location:

1050 Charles J. Becker Drive
Imperial, MO, 63052-3524
United States

Phone:

(636) 464-2976

Story Time- Mastodon State Historic Site

Dates: 
03/30/2024
04/20/2024
Time: 
10 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.