Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, in Republic, Missouri, is dedicated to preserving the location of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The fight, which took place on August 10, 1861, was the first significant American Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. A Confederate army led by Benjamin McCulloch and Sterling Price beat a weaker Union force led by Nathaniel Lyon in the fight. The Confederates, however, were unable to retain much of Missouri, and a Confederate defeat at the Battle of Pea Ridge essentially cemented Union control of the state. A five-mile vehicle tour circle, the rebuilt 1852 Ray House, and "Bloody Hill," the location of the closing stage of the fight, are among the highlights. The location lies near Republic in southern Missouri, about southwest of Springfield. It has been a National Park Service unit since 1960, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Park History

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Park was founded on April 22, 1960, and was re-designated a National Battlefield on December 16, 1970. On October 15, 1966, the battleground was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The park's official area was increased by 615 acres in 2004 pursuant to Public Law 108-394, and an additional 60 acres were added in 2018 following the purchase of land by the Civil War Trust.

The park is located southwest of Springfield in Greene County, Missouri, near Republic. The Civil War Trust and its allies bought and conserved 278 acres (1.13 km2) of the battlefield, the majority of which was sold to the National Park Service and included in the park. The park protects a total of 1,750 acres of the battlefield.

Features

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The tourist center features combat displays, a short film, fiber optic maps, and a bookstore. The battlefield is accessible through a 5-mile self-guided vehicle tour circle that connects eight locations illustrating the area's historical significance. Additionally, the tour circle includes hiking paths and a seven-mile horseback riding trail. The park holds commemoration events on August 10, the anniversary of the battle.

The Ray House, which survives on the battlefield, was constructed before the Civil War and functioned as a field hospital following the fight. After the Union forces withdrew from the battle, Confederate men took General Lyon's body to the Ray House. Over the summer, the home is open for visits during limited hours. Additionally, the tour circle includes a visit to Bloody Hill, the scene of intense combat during the war and the location of Lyon's death. Lyon's death location is commemorated with a monument built in 1928. Additionally, many cannons are on exhibit at Bloody Hill.

Apart from the sites visible from the tour road, the battlefield has numerous others. Among these is the 1985-founded John K. and Ruth Hulston Civil War Research Library. Over 12,000 works on the Civil War are housed at the library, with an emphasis on the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Additionally, the library offers digital access to Civil War genealogy records and a selection of regimental histories. Additionally, the Wilson's Creek Civil War Museum (previously known as the General Sweeny Museum) is located on the battlefield site. It houses relics and displays pertaining to the American Civil War's Trans-Mississippi Theater.

Information Provided by ABC Damage Restoration.