National Park Week

Take part in Bark Ranger Day, Junior Ranger Day, and more.

Junior Ranger Day

Join us for Junior Ranger Day during National Park Week 2025.We'll be launching our new junior booklets and also have special activities for junior rangers and the whole family including:* Guided nature walks* A Civil War “photobooth”* A read-a-long with Republic Librar......More

Join us for Junior Ranger Day during National Park Week 2025.We'll be launching our new junior booklets and also have special activities for junior rangers and the whole family including:* Guided nature walks* A Civil War “photobooth”* A read-a-long with Republic Library* Special Ray House tours* Junior Ranger National Park Trivia

Junior Ranger activities will be held on the patio or, in the event of severe weather, in the visitor center.

Park Day {Rescheduled}

Spring into service during our annual Park Day clean-up. Join park staff and other volunteers in cleaning up the battlefield and its namesake, Wilson’s Creek.Activities may include:- Help park staff clean up Wilson's Creek. Runoff brings trash and debris from outside th......More

Spring into service during our annual Park Day clean-up. Join park staff and other volunteers in cleaning up the battlefield and its namesake, Wilson’s Creek.Activities may include:- Help park staff clean up Wilson's Creek. Runoff brings trash and debris from outside the park to areas alongside and in Wilson's Creek. This is a very strenuous activity which is best suited for adults and older teenagers.- Assist with the repair and replacement of a section of split rail fencing. Work alongside maintenance staff as they remove old fencing and replace it with new rails. This is a strenuous activity which is suitable for youth organization members and adults.- Help remove unwanted weeds and brush from areas around public buildings.- Aid our historic weapons program. Join us in rolling empty paper cartridges for our musket programs. A great, low-key indoor park day activity for families with younger children with an educational component.- And more depending on park needs and staff availability.

Registration and briefing at the Visitor Center

Arts in the Park - Rug Braiding

Try your hand at something new this spring during our Arts in the Park workshops!On May 3rd, explore the art of rug braiding from Sherry of the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild. Learn the basics of rug braiding and make a mug rug to take home with you.The workshop is fre......More

Try your hand at something new this spring during our Arts in the Park workshops!On May 3rd, explore the art of rug braiding from Sherry of the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild. Learn the basics of rug braiding and make a mug rug to take home with you.The workshop is free, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To register please call the visitor center at 417-732-2662.

The event will be in the multi-purpose room of the visitor center. Check in at the front desk for guidance.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend opens the summer with a bang as our volunteer artillery crew demonstrates the power of Civil War artillery.Memorial Day weekend will also bring other living historians who will share special programs on how soldiers lived, marched and fought during ......More

Memorial Day weekend opens the summer with a bang as our volunteer artillery crew demonstrates the power of Civil War artillery.Memorial Day weekend will also bring other living historians who will share special programs on how soldiers lived, marched and fought during the first years of the Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi West

Common Soldiers of the Battle of Wilson's Creek

Meet living historians at Stop 5 (Sigel's Final Position) and discover the lives of the men who fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.To learn even more, join them for a talk and a historic weapons demonstration at the top of hour.Programs and locati......More

Meet living historians at Stop 5 (Sigel's Final Position) and discover the lives of the men who fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.To learn even more, join them for a talk and a historic weapons demonstration at the top of hour.Programs and locations are dependent on volunteer staffing and weather conditions - please check with the visitor center at the start of your visit.

Artillery Programs

Cannons were integral to the battle at Wilson’s Creek and now serve as a symbol and reminder of the brutal nature of the Civil War. See the loading and firing of a cannon and learn about the jobs of each position at the cannon and the importance of working together as a......More

Cannons were integral to the battle at Wilson’s Creek and now serve as a symbol and reminder of the brutal nature of the Civil War. See the loading and firing of a cannon and learn about the jobs of each position at the cannon and the importance of working together as a unit.

Flag Day

Museum staff will bring out additional flags from the collection for viewing.

Common Soldiers of the Battle of Wilson's Creek

Meet living historians at Stop 5 (Sigel's Final Position) and discover the lives of the men who fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.To learn even more, join them for a talk and a historic weapons demonstration at the top of hour.Programs and locati......More

Meet living historians at Stop 5 (Sigel's Final Position) and discover the lives of the men who fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.To learn even more, join them for a talk and a historic weapons demonstration at the top of hour.Programs and locations are dependent on volunteer staffing and weather conditions - please check with the visitor center at the start of your visit.

Artillery Programs

Cannons were integral to the battle at Wilson’s Creek and now serve as a symbol and reminder of the brutal nature of the Civil War. See the loading and firing of a cannon and learn about the jobs of each position at the cannon and the importance of working together as a......More

Cannons were integral to the battle at Wilson’s Creek and now serve as a symbol and reminder of the brutal nature of the Civil War. See the loading and firing of a cannon and learn about the jobs of each position at the cannon and the importance of working together as a unit.

Common Soldiers of the Battle of Wilson's Creek

Meet living historians at Stop 5 (Sigel's Final Position) and discover the lives of the men who fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.To learn even more, join them for a talk and a historic weapons demonstration at the top of hour.Programs and locati......More

Meet living historians at Stop 5 (Sigel's Final Position) and discover the lives of the men who fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.To learn even more, join them for a talk and a historic weapons demonstration at the top of hour.Programs and locations are dependent on volunteer staffing and weather conditions - please check with the visitor center at the start of your visit.