Arrow Rock State Historic Site is an
open-air museum
An open-air museum (or open air museum) is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts out-of-doors. It is also frequently known as a museum of buildings or a folk museum.
Definition
Open air is “the unconfined atmosphere†...
encompassing a geographic formation and a portion of the village of
Arrow Rock,
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
. The park is part of the
Arrow Rock Historic District
Arrow Rock Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District encompassing the village of Arrow Rock, Missouri and the adjacent Arrow Rock State Historic Site. The Arrow Rock area was where the historic Santa Fe Trail crossed the Missou ...
, a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
, and commemorates the history of the area as a key stop on the
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri, with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, who departed from the Boonslick region along the Missouri River, th ...
.
A visitor center museum features exhibits about Arrow Rock and the
Boone's Lick country. The
Bingham Home, built by artist
George Caleb Bingham
George Caleb Bingham (March 20, 1811 – July 7, 1879) was an American artist, soldier and politician known in his lifetime as "the Missouri Artist". Initially a Whig Party (United States), Whig, he was elected as a delegate to the Missouri legisl ...
, is a
historic house museum
A historic house museum is a house of historic significance that has been transformed into a museum. Historic furnishings may be displayed in a way that reflects their original placement and usage in a home. Historic house museums are held to a ...
furnished as in the 1880s. The 1834
Huston Tavern is a
restaurant
A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...
. A walking tour of the site includes the old courthouse, town doctor's home, stone jail, and other historic buildings. The park's amenities also include camping facilities and hiking trails.
[
The bridge and shelters were listed on the ]National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1985.
Works Progress Administration works at Arrow Rock State Historic Site
Works Progress Administration works at Arrow Rock State Historic Site, near Arrow Rock, Missouri
Arrow Rock is a village in Saline County, Missouri, United States, located near the Missouri River. The entire village is part of the National Historic Landmark Arrow Rock Historic District, designated by the Department of the Interior, Nationa ...
, are works built by Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, i ...
workers during 1934 to 1937.[ These include:
*Arrow Rock State Historic Site Bridge, at Arrow Rock State Historic Site, southeast of Arrow Rock, Missouri (National Park Service and Works Progress Administration), NRHP-listed. It is a three arch span stone bridge.]
*Arrow Rock State Historic Site Grave Shelter, Arrow Rock State Historic Site, southeast of Arrow Rock, Missouri (National Park Service and Works Progress Administration), NRHP-listed
*Arrow Rock State Historic Site Lookout Shelter, Arrow Rock State Historic Site, east of Arrow Rock, Missouri (National Park Service and Works Progress Administration), NRHP-listed
*Arrow Rock State Historic Site Open Shelter
References
External links
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri
Buildings and structures completed in 1937
Buildings and structures in Saline County, Missouri
Works Progress Administration in Missouri
National Register of Historic Places in Saline County, Missouri
Missouri State Historic Sites
Protected areas established in 1923
Museums in Saline County, Missouri
Open-air museums in Missouri
1923 establishments in Missouri
Stone arch bridges in the United States
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