Effective Saturday, April 11, 2020, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will close, and remain so until further notice.
This closure will include the visitor center and other public facilities, the battlefield, trails, and tour road.
The emergency closure is for the maintenance of public health and safety and is in direct response to guidance from state and federal health officials.
The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and will lift the closure as soon as possible.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield acting superintendent Russ Runge said, “It was a difficult decision to close the Battlefield. Every day, many people enjoy the resources available here, but closing will help protect the community, visitors, and employees from the COVID-19 virus. We will continue to be good stewards of your National Treasure and will welcome you back as soon as possible.”
The park will notify the public when the park reopens and will provide updates on the Wilson’s Creek NB website and on the Wilson’s Creek NB Facebook page.
The park previously announced cancellation of all public events in April including Park Day, Junior Ranger Day, Arts in the Park, and spring school tours.
Public programs scheduled for May remain pending.
Check the website and Facebook page for notifications about the park’s operating status and events in May and after.
Visit Wilson’s Creek NB website, the park’s Facebook page, and the Trans-Mississippi Theater Virtual Museum to take advantage of digital tools to explore Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
For details about other parks’ operations, check with individual parks.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield preserves the site of the first major battle of the Civil War in the West.
The Confederate victory on August 10, 1861, focused greater national attention on the war in Missouri, leading to greater federal military action.
While they are closed to the public, Wilson’s Creek is now accepting bids for planting crops within the Battlefield.
Corn will be planted for the 2020 season. A soil test will be required the following season to determine whether corn or soybeans will be planted.
Winter wheat or oats may also be planted other years.
The winning bidder will be granted a permit to plant approximately 55 acres between April 1, 2020, and November 1, 2025.
Bids will be judged on the amount of the bid, ability to perform the work, previous work performance, and agreement to permit conditions.
The winning bidder will be required to pay for the use of the fields on a yearly basis.
In addition to this, they are also accepting bids for haying fescue grass within the Battlefield.
This special use permit will be good for five years and is utilized to help maintain the cultural landscape.
Over the past few years the Battlefield has received bids ranging from $1,500 to $11,000.
The winning bidder will be granted a permit to hay approximately 483 acres of fescue grass between the dates of May 1 and October 31 each year from 2020 to 2025.
Bids will be judged on the amount of the bid, ability to perform the work based on previous work performance, and agreement to permit conditions.
Conditions of the permit include:
- Yearly payment to the U.S. government for haying the entire 483 acres
- Cutting thistles before seeding
- Prompt removal of hay bales
- Prior approval before use of fertilizer
- Grazing livestock is not allowed, but seed harvesting is permitted
Interested bidders can request an application form, maps of the areas, and site-specific requirements through e-mail by contacting Connie Langum at Connie_Langum@nps.gov.
All bids will be accepted until April 24.
For additional information on this project or to request a printed application package by regular mail, contact the park at 417-732-2662.
