National Register of Historic Places

Kimmswick Bone Bed

Imperial, Jefferson County, Missouri
Listed
November 5, 1980
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80002371

About this property

Mastodon State Historic Site is a publicly owned, 431-acre (174 ha) archaeological and paleontological site with recreational features in Imperial, Missouri, maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, preserving the Kimmswick Bone Bed. Bones of mastodons and other now-extinct animals were first found here in the early 19th century. The area gained fame as one of the most extensive Pleistocene ice age deposits in the country and attracted scientific interest worldwide. The site was purchased by the state in 1976 following an effort to preserve it from destruction with the construction of Interstate 55. Archaeological history was made at the site in 1979 when scientists excavated a stone spear point made by hunters of the Clovis culture (14,000–10,000 years ago) in direct association with mastodon bones. This was the first solid evidence of the coexistence of people and these giant prehistoric beasts. The Kimmswick Bone Bed was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Location

Imperial, Jefferson County, Missouri

Categories

PREHISTORICSCIENCE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Kimmswick Bone Bed listed on the National Register?

Kimmswick Bone Bed was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Kimmswick Bone Bed?

Kimmswick Bone Bed is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Kimmswick Bone Bed?

The period of significance for Kimmswick Bone Bed is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Kimmswick Bone Bed?

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