Battle of Athens State Historic Site

Battle of Athens State Historic Site
Missouri State Historic Site
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Clark
Township	Sweet Home Twp

Coordinates	40°35′16″N 91°42′14″W / 40.58778°N 91.70389°W / 40.58778; -91.70389Coordinates: 40°35′16″N 91°42′14″W / 40.58778°N 91.70389°W / 40.58778; -91.70389

Area	408.5 acres (165 ha) ^[1]

Established	1975
Management	Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Location in Missouri
Website: Battle of Athens State Historic Site

Battle of Athens State Historic Site is located in Clark County, Missouri, along the banks of the Des Moines River. It is the site of the Battle of Athens. The historic site and open-air museum interpret the battle and its aftermath.

History

The once-thriving river village of Athens, Missouri, had up to fifty businesses and a large mill in antebellum times.^[2] In July 1861, it was occupied by pro-Union forces of the Missouri Home Guard. Wanting to seize the strategically important village for the Confederacy, elements of the pro-Southern Missouri State Guard attacked on August 5, 1861. Despite being outnumbered by more than 3-to-1, the Home Guard emerged victorious. A small action when compared to other battles, with casualties light, nonetheless it holds the distinction of being the northernmost Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. Following the battle, many bitter feelings remained among residents. This along with the coming of railroads and less reliance on river shipping sealed the fate of Athens.^[2] By the turn of the 20th century Athens was a veritable ghost town. In 1962, remaining area residents worked together to create the Battle of Athens Park, which was donated to the state of Missouri in 1975.^[3]

Activities and amenities

In addition to interpretive programs and free tours of the Thome-Benning House, the site offers facilities for camping and fishing plus three picnicking areas and two hiking trails.^[4]

References

↑ "State parks...estimated acres" (PDF). Revised Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: 2008-2012. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. pp. 142–143. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
1 2 "General Information: Battle of Athens State Historic Site". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
↑ "Visitors Guide to the Battle of Athens State Historic Site". Elsah, Illinois: greatriverroad.com. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
↑ "Battle of Athens State Historic Site". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 9, 2014.

External links

Battle of Athens State Historic Site Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Protected areas of Missouri

Federal

National Monuments:	George Washington Carver

National Historic Sites:	Harry S Truman Ulysses S. Grant

National Battlefields:	Wilson's Creek

National Memorials:	Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

National Wildlife Refuges:	Big Muddy Clarence Cannon Great River Middle Mississippi River Mingo Ozark Cavefish Pilot Knob Squaw Creek Swan Lake Two Rivers

National Forests:	Mark Twain

Wilderness Areas:	Bell Mountain Devils Backbone Hercules Glades Irish Mingo Paddy Creek Piney Creek Rockpile Mountain

Other Protected Areas:	Ozark National Scenic Riverways

State

State Parks:	Babler Sam A. Baker Bennett Spring Big Lake Big Oak Tree Big Sugar Creek Castlewood Crowder Cuivre River Current River Don Robinson Echo Bluff Elephant Rocks Finger Lakes Graham Cave Grand Gulf Ha Ha Tonka Harry S Truman Hawn Johnson's Shut-Ins Jones-Confluence Point Katy Trail Knob Noster Lake of the Ozarks Lake Wappapello Lewis and Clark Long Branch Mark Twain Meramec Montauk Morris Onondaga Cave Pershing Pomme de Terre Prairie Roaring River Robertville Rock Bridge Memorial Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry Route 66 St. Francois St. Joe Stockton Table Rock Taum Sauk Mountain Thousand Hills Trail of Tears Van Meter Wakonda Wallace Washington Watkins Woolen Mill Weston Bend

State Historic Sites:	Arrow Rock Battle of Athens Battle of Carthage Battle of Island Mound Battle of Lexington Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio Bollinger Mill Nathan Boone Homestead Boone's Lick Bothwell Lodge Clark's Hill/Norton Confederate Memorial Deutschheim Dillard Mill Gov. Daniel Dunklin's Grave Felix Vallé House First Missouri State Capitol Fort Davidson Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home Harry S Truman Birthplace Hunter-Dawson Iliniwek Village Jefferson Landing Jewell Cemetery Locust Creek Covered Bridge Mark Twain Birthplace Mastodon Missouri Mines Missouri State Capitol Missouri State Museum Osage Village Sandy Creek Covered Bridge Sappington Cemetery Scott Joplin House Towosahgy Union Covered Bridge Watkins Woolen Mill

Conservation areas:	List of Missouri conservation areas

State Forests:	List of Missouri state forests

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

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