{{Short description|State park in Missouri, United States}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox park | name = Meramec State Park | image = Fisher Cave Stalactiflat.JPG | image_caption = A ''stalactiflat'' in Fisher Cave | image_alt = Cave drapery | image_size = 280 | map = USA Missouri#USA | map_size = 280 | map_caption = Location in Missouri | relief = 1 | location = [[Franklin County, Missouri|Franklin]], [[Crawford County, Missouri|Crawford]], and [[Washington County, Missouri|Washington]] counties, [[Missouri]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|38|13|00|N|91|04|40|W|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name=gnis/> | area = {{convert|6896.33|acre}}<ref name=parkdata/> | elevation = {{convert|571|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|735977|Meramec Park Lake}}</ref> | established = 1927<ref name=acquisition/> | visitation_num = 369,762 | visitation_year = 2023 | visitation_ref = <ref name=parkdata/> | administrator = [[Missouri Department of Natural Resources]] | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox NRHP | name = Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | nearest_city= [[Sullivan, Missouri]] | coordinates= | locmapin = | built = c. {{Start date|1934}} | builder = CCC; NPS | architecture = Rustic | added = February 28, 1985 | area = Less than one acre | mpsub = [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/64000392 ECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR] | refnum = 85000530 }} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Meramec State Park Pump House | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | nearest_city= [[Sullivan, Missouri]] | coordinates= | locmapin = | built = {{Start date|1934}} | builder = CCC; NPS | architecture = Rustic | added = February 28, 1985 | area = Less than one acre | mpsub = [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/64000392 ECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR] | refnum = 85000531 }} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Meramec State Park Shelter House | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | nearest_city= [[Sullivan, Missouri]] | coordinates= | locmapin = | built = {{Start date|1935}} | builder = CCC; NPS | architecture = Rustic | added = February 26, 1985 | area = Less than one acre | mpsub = [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/64000392 ECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR] | refnum = 85000532 }} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District | embed = yes | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = | caption = | nearest_city= [[Sullivan, Missouri]] | coordinates= | locmapin = | builder = National Park Service | architecture = Rustic | added = December 6, 1991 | area = Less than one acre | mpsub = [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/64000392 ECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR] | refnum = 91001772 }} }}{{Tone|date=February 2026}} '''Meramec State Park''' is a public recreation area located near [[Sullivan, Missouri]], about 60 miles from [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], along the [[Meramec River]].<ref name=parks/> The park has diverse ecosystems such as [[hardwood forest]]s and [[Glade (geography)|glade]]s. There are over 40 [[cave]]s located throughout the park, the bedrock is [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]]. The most famous is [[Fisher Cave]], located near the campgrounds. The park borders the [[Meramec Conservation Area]].
==History== The park was acquired by the state in 1927, then saw active development by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC) between 1933 and 1935. At that time, trails were laid out and numerous buildings constructed including a dining hall, recreation hall, concession building, and shelters.<ref name=nomination/>
In the late 1970s, as part of the [[Meramec River#Meramec Basin Project|Meramec Basin Project]], the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] began work on a dam in the park to impound the river. The resulting reservoir would have permanently flooded much of the park and imperiled many different species, including the endangered [[Indiana bat]]. However, in response to direct citizen action against the dam, the project was halted, marking a victory for the environmental movement.<ref name="watkins1"/>
==Historic sites== Three surviving CCC-era structures were added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1985: * '''Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower''': The rustic-style stone and trussed timber octagonal lookout tower was built about 1934.<ref name=nomination/>{{rp|7}} * '''Meramec State Park Pump House''': The rustic-style stone pump house (well house) on the Lodge Trail has a medium-pitched front-gable roof with small [[cupola]]. It was built in 1934.<ref name=nomination/>{{rp|326}} * '''Meramec State Park Shelter House''': The rustic-style shelter house on the Lodge Trail measures 12 feet by 16 feet and has a hipped roof supported by heavy wooden posts and brackets. It was built in 1935.<ref name=nomination/>{{rp|332}}
In 1991, the '''Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District''' was also added to the list. The [[Historic district (United States)|historic district]] encompasses four contributing buildings, three contributing structures, and one contributing object. They include the picnic shelter, stone restrooms, water fountain, pump house, and stone steps.<ref name="DNR"/>{{rp|5}}
The bottom southeast corner of the park includes the old Hamilton Ironworks, after which the Ozarks fiddle tune "[[Hamilton Ironworks]]" is named.<ref name=lohraff/><ref name=beisswenger/> The Hamilton Iron Works Trail has interpretive signage about the history the blast furnace that once operated "around the clock, seven days a week."<ref name=trails/>
==Activities and amenities== In addition to cave tours, the park offers hiking trails, fishing, swimming and boating on the Meramec River, and a campground. The visitor center houses an exhibit hall with a video presentation and information about the history and ecology of the area.<ref name=vc/>
==References== <references> <ref name=parks>{{cite web |url=https://mostateparks.com/park/meramec-state-park |title=Meramec State Park |date=December 10, 2010 |publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources |access-date=September 9, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=parkdata>{{cite web |url=https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Datasheets_Meramec.pdf |title=Data Sheet: Meramec State Park |publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=acquisition>{{cite web |url=https://mostateparks.com/page/59045/state-park-land-acquisition-summary |title=State Park Land Acquisition Summary |date=August 25, 2011 |publisher=Missouri State Parks |access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=trails>{{cite web |url=https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/TrailDetails-HamiltonIronWorksTrail.pdf |title=Hamilton Iron Works Trail |publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=vc>{{cite web |url=https://mostateparks.com/location/55987/visitor-center |title=Visitor Center at Meramec State Park |date=February 10, 2011 |publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources |access-date=September 9, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="watkins1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollanet.org/~conorw/cwome/article69&70combined.htm |title=The Meramec Basin Project: A Look Back 25 Years Later |author=Watkins, Connor |work=Conor Watkins' Ozark Mountain Experience |date=2006 |access-date=October 24, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name=lohraff>{{cite book |first=Kevin |last=Lohraff |title=Hiking Missouri |page=139 |publisher=Human Kinetics |year=2009 |isbn=9780736075886}}</ref>
<ref name=beisswenger>{{cite book |first1=Drew |last1=Beisswenger |first2=Gordon |last2=McCann |title=Ozarks Fiddle Music |year=2008 |page=186 |publisher=Mel Bay Publications |isbn=9780786677306 |quote=Cecil learned “Hamilton Ironworks” from Gene, who learned it in the 1950s from Roy Wooliver.}}</ref>
<ref name=nomination>{{cite web |url=https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/ECW%20Architecture%20in%20MSP.pdf |title=Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Architecture in Missouri State Parks, 1933-1942, Thematic Resources |series=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form |access-date=December 24, 2024 |first1=James M. |last1=Denny |first2=Bonita Marie |last2=Wright |date=November 7, 1984 |p=322–338|publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources (includes photographs)}}</ref>
<ref name="DNR">{{cite web |url=http://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/91001772.pdf |series=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form |title=Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District |access-date=December 1, 2016 |author=Bonnie Stepenoff |date=June 1991 |publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225081657/http://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/91001772.pdf |archive-date=December 25, 2016}} (includes 8 photographs from 1991)</ref> </references>
==External links== *[https://mostateparks.com/park/meramec-state-park Meramec State Park] Missouri Department of Natural Resources *[https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/4MER_ColorMap.pdf Meramec State Park Map] Missouri Department of Natural Resources {{commons category|Meramec State Park|position=left}}
{{Protected Areas of Missouri}} {{National Register of Historic Places in Missouri}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Missouri]] [[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Missouri]] [[Category:Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri]] [[Category:Protected areas of Franklin County, Missouri]] [[Category:Protected areas of Crawford County, Missouri]] [[Category:Protected areas of Washington County, Missouri]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1927]] [[Category:1927 establishments in Missouri]] [[Category:Caves of Missouri]] [[Category:Show caves in the United States]] [[Category:Landforms of Franklin County, Missouri]] [[Category:Landforms of Crawford County, Missouri]] [[Category:Landforms of Washington County, Missouri]] [[Category:Observation towers on the National Register of Historic Places]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Franklin County, Missouri]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Crawford County, Missouri]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Missouri]] [[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in St. Louis]]