Missouri Mines State Historic Site occupies Federal Mill No. 3 in
Park Hills,
Missouri, United States, which processed the
lead and
zinc ore that was mined in the immediate area for many decades. The site's old power building features a geological and mining history museum and interpretive center focusing on the state's historic
Old Lead Belt.
The plant was built by the Federal Lead Co. in 1906-1907 and subsequently bought by competitor
St. Joseph Lead Company St. Joe Minerals Corporation was an American mining company. It was the United States largest producer of lead and zinc at the time of its merger with Fluor Corporation in 1981. The St. Joseph Lead Company was founded on March 25, 1864 by Lyman ...
in 1923. The mill was retired in 1972 as much of the ore in the area had been mined and major operations were moving west.
In 1975, the land was donated to the state of
Missouri for recreational use. Much of the land was considered too damaged for return to a natural state and so became set aside for off-roading vehicles as
St. Joe State Park
St. Joe State Park is a public recreation area consisting of on the south side of Park Hills, Missouri, along the flanks of the Saint Francois Mountains. The state park includes the Missouri Mines State Historic Site with its former St. Joe ...
, while the mill site was designated an interpretive center.
See also
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Mining in the United States
*
Desloge Consolidated Lead Company
Desloge Consolidated Lead Company was a lead mining company in the Southeast Missouri Lead District that was operated by the Desloge family in the 19th and early 20th century. The Desloge lead operations in the "Southeast Missouri Lead District, Ol ...
References
External links
Missouri Mines State Historic SiteMissouri Department of Natural Resources
Missouri Mines State Historic Site MapMissouri Department of Natural Resources
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Missouri State Historic Sites
Protected areas established in 1976
Museums in St. Francois County, Missouri
Geology museums in the United States
Industry museums in Missouri
Mines in Missouri
Mining museums in Missouri
Protected areas of St. Francois County, Missouri
Lead mines in the United States