The Mastodon State Historic Site will celebrate its 50th anniversary Saturday, Sept. 5, with a jam-packed day of events and attractions.
The celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the state park, which was established in July 1976 at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
“We are really looking forward to it,” said Erik Ferguson, senior historic site specialist. “We have a jam-packed, full day.”
There will be no admission fee to enter the site’s museum during the celebration. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Numerous area groups will offer free programs in the picnic area from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ferguson said County Councilman Charles Groeteke also will present site staff members with a proclamation in the picnic area, recognizing the site’s 50th anniversary.
“People will not have to pay to have a fun day,” Ferguson said. “There are free programs, and kids may have fun while learning, play in the creek or take a hike.”
Activities
Mastodon State Historic Site representatives will set up an arts and craft table in the picnic area, and other area organizations representatives will make presentations and provide activities throughout the celebration.
Ferguson said a flint knapper, who is someone who creates tools out of stone, will tell visitors about making Native American stone tools.
He said Ozark Fly Fishers representatives will bring aquatic creatures for people to view, and they will teach children how to tie flies and fly fish.
Ferguson said Missouri Stream Team members will have presentations about aquatic insects that are in the site’s creek. They also will have stream trash bags for people to use to help clean up the site’s creek while they are there, or people may take the bags home and use them later at various parks or naturally-preserved areas.
He said an atlatl thrower will demonstrate how to use that Native American hunting device.
The device consists of two parts: the atlatl and a dart. The atlatl resembles a stick that has a spur on the end, and that is used to launch the dart that is typically 4-to-6-feet long.
Ferguson also said representatives from the Missouri Master Naturalists Program will provide information about mammals, native Missouri plants and how to reduce the use of plastic, and members of the Missouri Archaeological Society will be at the event.
He said Barnum Jack, which is a bluegrass band, will perform from 1-3 p.m. in the picnic area, and a food truck will sell items during the event.
Ferguson said there also will be two guided hikes during the celebration. The first hike will start at 10 a.m. on the site’s half-mile Wildflower Trail, and the second hike will start at 1 p.m. on the site’s 0.8-mile Spring Branch Trail.
“There is a lot for all ages to enjoy,” Ferguson said. “There are things people may learn, or they may just want to come out, have fun and play in the creek. The guided hikes are going to be great.”
Ferguson said museum admission is usually $4 for visitors who are 13 years old or older. Admission is free for children 12 years and younger.
He said the anniversary celebration is a good opportunity to visit one of the state’s unique parks.
“Our site is a little special compared to other state parks,” Ferguson said. “We are in a suburban area outside of St. Louis. It is a great place for people to stop who are traveling up and down I-55.
“It is unique that people may come into a museum and see a little bit of history about this site.”
Ferguson said up to 1,000 visitors typically visit the site during the spring, summer and fall.
He said the site will open its special-use area for parking because staff members are expecting more visitors during the celebration.
“We may double the number of visitors,” Ferguson said.
History
According to the Missouri State Parks website, the first report of mastodon bones and other now-extinct animal bones were found on the site in 1839 by Albert C. Koch, a private entrepreneur and a St. Louis museum owner.
Amateur St. Louis paleontologist C.W. Beehler excavated several skulls, jaws, teeth, tusk and other fossils in the area in the early 20th century.
Beehler’s work attracted people to the site during the 1904 World’s Fair that was held in St. Louis, according to the website.
The area was nearly lost when I-55 was built in the 1970s, but the Missouri Department of Natural Resources purchased the 418 acres in 1976 thanks to a federal grant and money-collecting efforts by a committee, local legislators, private individuals, corporations and local schools, the state parks website said.
The site said Missouri State Parks sponsored excavations in 1979, 1980 and 1984, and during the first of those excavations, paleontologist Russell W. Graham of the Illinois State Museum discovered the first evidence of the coexistence of humans and mastodons when a stone “Clovis” type projectile point was found in association with mastodon bones.
“It was a big deal when this site became a park,” Ferguson said. “It was saved from being part of the interstate.
“We do have a few members who were there when this park was established. We may hear some stories from people who were on the site or helped with the excavations (during the anniversary celebration). It is a great experience to bring the community together.”
For more information, go to the Mastodon State Historic Site page on mostateparks.com or call 636-464-2976.