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battlefield

 

Battlefield Visitors Support Communities

by April McDonoughon September 3, 2024 in Battlefield tagged

A new National Park Service report shows that 317,000 visitors to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in 2023 spent $21.2 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 311 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $28.7 million. See the news release WICR 7_2024 Visitor Spending Effects 2023.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

“People come to Wilson’s Creek to learn about the Trans-Mississippi theater of the Civil War, to commemorate and reflect on a difficult period of our history, and to enjoy the recreational benefits throughout the site,” said Superintendent Sarah Cunningham. “We recognize tourism as a critical driver to our local economies and are proud that Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield supports 311 jobs and generations $28.7 million in revenue to communities near the park.”

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.

To learn more about national parks in Missouri and how the National Park Service works with Missouri communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/missouri.

 

 

 

1860 Henry Rifle

by mwhisleron June 21, 2020 in Battlefield, Foundation tagged , , , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will take possession of an important Civil War artifact thanks to efforts of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation and its supporters. The Foundation was presented with the opportunity to purchase a very rare .44 caliber Model 1860 Henry rifle recently sold at auction and purchased by the Foundation to be added to the park’s permanent collection. The Foundation will present the rifle to Wilson’s Creek Acting Superintendent Russ Runge at 1 PM on Tuesday, June 23, at Stop 5 on the battlefield’s tour road, overlooking the open fields of Colonel Franz Sigel’s position the morning of the battle, August 10, 1861.

Foundation friends and supporters will be on hand to view the presentation and see the beautifully embellished weapon for themselves. The public is also invited to attend.

While this Henry rifle was not used at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, the weapon does have a Missouri connection. The rifle was owned by Major George W. Fulton of the 21 st Missouri Infantry, a Union regiment that saw extensive service during the war and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Tupelo and other actions. Fulton, a resident of Edina (Knox County), Missouri, served with the regiment from July 1861 until his resignation in December 1864. He died in Edwards County, Kansas, in 1890.

The Henry, which was first produced in 1860, was the most technologically advanced small arm of the Civil War period. A lever-action repeating rifle, the Henry utilized a 15-round magazine containing self-contained metallic cartridges, allowing a soldier to fire anywhere from 15-30 shots per minute at a time when a soldier carrying a single-shot muzzle-loading rifle-musket could fire only 2-3 shots per minute.

This artifact will be displayed in the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield’s newly-renovated Visitor Center set to open in October 2020. The planned exhibit will highlight the history of Civil War weapons technology. Displaying a Henry will allow visitors to gain a greater appreciation of the rapid advance in arms technology that took place during this period, drawing a clear distinction between the single-shot weapon of the pre-war era and the repeating rifle that was destined to spell the end of muzzle-loading weapons and dominate the arms market for decades after the war.

The Wilson’s Creek NB Foundation also recently contributed an additional $40,000 to the visitor center renovation project to provide content for electronic displays highlighting several aspects of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and the Civil War.

Wilson’s Creek Foundation is the support and fund-raising partner for Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, with the mission of encouraging awareness, appreciation, educational utilization, and development of the park, as well as raising funds for various projects not covered by the National Park Service.

rifle-photo

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Trails
 

History Preserved Through Land Purchase

by mwhisleron March 25, 2019 in Battlefield, Foundation tagged , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield has recently been able to acquire 6.2 acres of historic land
on the west side of the park from a willing seller. This land preservation effort was completed
through partnerships with the American Battlefield Trust, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Foundation, and the National Park Service. The authority for the addition of this property is the
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Boundary Expansion Bill that was approved by Congress in
June 2003.

This historically significant parcel of land was where Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch
ordered Colonel Greer to deploy his men to turn the Union right flank on Bloody Hill. Greer’s
battalion, consisting of about 400 men of the South Kansas Texas Cavalry Regiment, moved
along the north side of Skegg’s Branch. In addition, surgeons of Mayor General Price’s Missouri
State Guard established a field hospital at Skegg’s Spring, which is visible from the property.
According to authors Dr. Thomas Sweeney and Kip Lindberg, the site offered large trees with
shade along with the fine natural spring.

The purpose of this land acquisition is to preserve history as it relates to the Battle of Wilson’s
Creek for future generations of visitors who come to the battlefield to learn about the Civil War
and the events that took place on August 10, 1861.

Mike Ussery, President of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, stated, “Our
Foundation is pleased to be able to assist with important land preservation efforts like this one.
One of our goals is to protect the viewshed and the pristine nature of the more than 2,000 acres
that make up this park.”

According to Superintendent Hillmer, “This particular section of land will help park staff to
educate more than 200,000 visitors each year, providing a better understanding of the Battle of
Wilson’s Creek. The park is very grateful for partnerships and willing sellers who assist the
National Park Service and Wilson’s Creek NB with purchases of important historic property like
this.”

 

Junior Ranger Day

by mwhisleron April 18, 2018 in Battlefield tagged , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will be holding its annual “Junior Ranger Day” this Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Several activities are planned to assist youth in completing the Wilson’s Creek Junior Ranger Activity Book. “Park Volunteers will provide tours of the historic Ray House and show how Civil
War muskets worked”, remarked Chief Ranger John Sutton. A Junior Ranger badge and a packet of free items are awarded to the participant upon completion of the program. There is no charge for the Junior Ranger program. Entrance fees are waived for all visitors on April 21.

Come and bring the kids, so they can enjoy becoming a Junior Ranger and visit a unit of the National Park Service, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Remember, all fees are waived this Saturday.

 

Battlefield Land Expansion

by mwhisleron February 15, 2018 in Battlefield, Foundation tagged , , , , ,

Recently a piece of historic land was added to the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield through the efforts of the Civil War Trust and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation. The CW Trust is a national organization with the mission of preserving historic Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield’s Boundary Expansion document, dated June 2003, states that additional land may be purchased from willing sellers. The 60-acre parcel was purchased and subsequently transferred to the National Park Service.

The significance of this property, located on the southeast boundary of the battlefield, is that it was the first position of Colonel Franz Sigel’s troops during the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Union forces divided their troops as they left Springfield around 6:00 pm on August 9th. The plan was to take 1,200 men under Col. Sigel and swing wide to the south, flanking the Confederates on the right as General Lyon’s force struck from the north.
The sixty acres acquired on January 22, 2018, allows the park to interpret a very significant segment of the battle under the command of Col. Sigel. This property was conveyed to the U.S. Department of the Interior and will be managed by Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

“In donating this property to the National Park Service, we continue to preserve a piece of our history for generations to come,” stated Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Trust. Furthermore, Wilson’s Creek NB Foundation President Mike Ussery stated that, “Part of the mission of the Foundation is to preserve land directly related to the battle. We are very proud to assist in this land preservation donation.”

 

Free Park Entrance on Veteran’s Day

by mwhisleron November 4, 2015 in Battlefield tagged ,

In honor of the service and sacrifices of veterans, Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis has announced that all national park units will waive entrance fees on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2015, including Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

Wilson’s Creek NB has always encouraged our active duty and veteran military personnel to visit the battlefield.  According to Supt Hillmer, “Military staff rides have occurred at the battlefield for decades. They study the topography, the weapons and command decisions on their visits.  Their next deployment is usually overseas to defend our country.”

Active duty military personnel are also encouraged to obtain a free Military Pass to the national parks and public lands.  The pass is available at the Wilson’s Creek visitor center and is valid for one year.  Military personnel must show their military identification to receive the pass.

 

American Solar Challenge

by mwhisleron October 28, 2015 in Battlefield tagged , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and Republic High School are proud to support science innovation and celebrate the National Park Service Centennial by hosting a stop on the American Solar Challenge.  University teams from around the world will design and build solar-powered cars, and then drive them 1,800 miles on the open road during an 8-day rally.

This National Park Service Centennial event will take place from July 30 to August 6, 2016.  Over the course of the rally, the cars will stop at nine different National Park Service sites in seven states, including Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Missouri.  Visitors are invited to see the cars and enjoy the other activities offered the day of the rally stop, including a traveling exhibit.  You can find more special experiences in the national parks at FindYourPark.com.

As part of the 2016 Centennial, the National Park Service has challenged itself to provide more research and education around the effects of climate change on national park resources.  Among other things, the Green Parks Program encourages walking, biking, ride-sharing, and use of fuel-efficient or alternative-fuel vehicles.  The American Solar Challenge highlights these efforts by bringing solar-powered cars to parks.

Every two years, the Innovators Educational Foundation organizes the American Solar Challenge, which is a collegiate student design competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered vehicles in a cross-country time/distance rally event.  “We’re looking forward to the American Solar Challenge 2016 being part of the National Park Service Centennial and bringing the solar cars to 9 national park locations across the Midwest.  We hope visitors will take this opportunity to see the solar cars, meet the teams, and find their park,” says Event Organizer, Gail Lueck.

The American Solar Challenge will begin at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio on July 30, 2016 and end in Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota on August 6, 2016.  Midway stops include Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Homestead National Monument of America, and Scotts Bluff National Monument.  More information is available on the American Solar Challenge website.

 

Civil War Veteran Burial

by mwhisleron April 8, 2015 in Battlefield tagged , , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield staff and volunteers will be participating in the internment of a Major Raphael Guido Rombauer on Saturday April 11, at Park Cemetery in Carthage, Missouri. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. with graveside service at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

“If you have a love of history, especially the Civil War, you need to attend this ceremony, or at least pause at 1:30 p.m., to give honor to this father, husband, and Civil War Soldier, who will finally be laid to rest on Saturday”, according to Supt Hillmer. He continued, “This may be the last Civil War soldier buried in your lifetime.”

A native of Austria-Hungary, Rombauer immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri in the late 1840s. With tensions rising in the spring of 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 1st Missouri Infantry. A ninety-day unit, Rombauer was discharged before that unit’s participation at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. Rombauer subsequently enlisted in an Illinois artillery unit and ended the war with the rank of major. Following the war, he settled in the Carthage area and became involved in coal mining and railroads. He eventually lived in Kirksville where he died in 1912 at the age of 75. His remains were sent to St. Louis for cremation, where they remained unclaimed for 102 years. His remains were brought to the attention of Elizabeth Young, his great granddaughter who claimed them. Rombauer will be interned in his family’s plot at Park Cemetery with full honors.

“A number of organizations have working together over the past few months to ensure that Major Rombauer’s remains are finally interned with dignity”, remarked Chief Park Ranger John Sutton. “The Carthage Community Band will provide music, the Holmes’ Brigade, a federal Civil War reenactment unit, will escort the remains. The Sons of Union Veterans and the Daughters of Union Veterans, the U.S. Army and the staff of Park Cemetery will all have a role. The National Park Service has been requested to fire an artillery salute, representing his artillery service during the Civil War.” Major Rombauer will be interned almost 150 years to the day after the surrender of Confederate forces at Appomattox, Virginia which essentially ended the Civil War.

 

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Anniversary Program

by mwhisleron July 25, 2014 in Battlefield tagged , , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will observe the 153rd Anniversary of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek over the weekend of August 9 and 10, 2014, with a variety of programs and activities.

On Sunday, August 10, at 2:00 p.m., at the Visitor Center, the anniversary program will start with a presentation of colors, recognition of guests, and a special presentation by the battlefield’s Foundation. “The main speaker,” according to Superintendent Hillmer, “will be author James W. Erwin.  He will talk about his books and the importance of preserving these special places and educating the next generation about their important history.”

“Come and enjoy this special presentation by a Missouri author,” says Superintendent Hillmer.  Refreshments will be served and entrance fees for August 9 &10 will be waived.

Artillery and infantry small arms firing demonstrations are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, at tour road stop 5.  Volunteers will be depicting the Missouri State Guard, pro-Southern state militia that fought at Wilson’s Creek.  “The purpose of these programs is to relate to visitors the soldier’s combat experience during the battle,” remarked Chief Park Ranger John Sutton.  A special sunset artillery salute will take place at 8:15 p.m. at tour road stop 5 to honor the soldiers who were killed during the battle of Wilson’s Creek.

Guided tours of Bloody Hill will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  Visitors should meet at the Bloody Hill parking area for the tour, which should last about an hour.  An exhibit on Civil War prisoners and full scale prints of the new exhibits will be available for viewing at the visitor’s center.

 

Sons of Union Veterans Donate Artifacts

by mwhisleron July 16, 2014 in Battlefield tagged , , ,

Phelps Camp No. 66, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War recently donated a collection of rare veteran and Grand Army of the Republic artifacts to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

Four Union veteran ribbons from southwest Missouri, three Missouri Grand Army of the Republic documents, and a poster advertising a trip on the “Frisco” line from Springfield, Missouri to the 1895 G.A.R. reunion in Louisville, Kentucky were included in the donation. The Grand Army of the Republic was founded in 1866 and open to honorably discharged members of the Union Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The last member of the G.A.R. died in 1956.

“We are very grateful to the members of Phelps Camp for purchasing and donating these precious artifacts. Material relating to the G.A.R. and Union veterans in Missouri is extremely scarce, and these items will be added to our museum collection, preserved in our climate-controlled storage area, and made available to researchers,” said Superintendent Hillmer, who is in the picture along with Robert Clanton, Commander of Phelps Camp.

Phelps Camp, the local chapter of the national Sons of Union Veterans organization, was formed in 1994. The Sons of Union Veterans is a patriotic and educational organization, founded on November 12, 1881 and incorporated by Act of Congress August 20, 1954. One of the purposes of the organization is to preserve the memory of those who saved the Union from 1861 and 1865. Phelps Camp has donated a number of Civil War documents and artifacts to public collections where they can be enjoyed by visitors and studied by scholars.

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