Maramec Museum, St. James
November 2024
The number one attraction is Maramec Spring itself, which gushes some 96 million gallons of water a day. Feeding the fish in the spring branch is a fun activity, as is walking the paths through the trout hatchery area before heading into the park grounds to explore the remains of the iron ore furnace and related structures.
Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park, and there are several hiking trails. The Historic Drive takes you past scenic lookout points, the old Maramec Community Cemetery (1858-1882) and an open pit mine. There’s also a café, park store and campground.
For the purpose of this column, the focus is on the two museums in the park, the Maramec Museum and the Ozark Agriculture Museum, both of which are included in the park admission fee.
The Maramec Museum of Natural and Cultural History tells the story of the spring, from the Native Americans who lived alongside it through its heyday in the mid-1800s as an iron works to its current role as a 1,856-acre wildlife refuge and park. Large dioramas show how a village of 500 people grew up around the iron works and how the various structures functioned as part of a booming industry. Near the entrance, there’s a 21-foot-tall bluff with a small spring that flows into a 600-gallon aquarium. Displays show the recharge area for the spring and the water cycle. There are hands-on activities for children and a gift shop.
Fans of old-time agricultural equipment will want to visit the Ozark Agriculture Museum, a barn-like structure packed with all types of farm machinery and an assortment of farm equipment lined up outside. Be sure to note the in-ground rim shaper, which was used to make wagon wheels.
Old Iron Works Days, held annually on the second weekend in October, is a great time to visit the park. Live music, a fiddling contest, old-fashioned games and demonstrations of old-time skills and crafts are part of the festivities.
Maramec Spring Park is located on Missouri Highway 8 south of St. James. The park is owned and operated by The James Foundation, while the trout hatchery is operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Maramec Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, April through October; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March and November. The Ozark Agriculture Museum is open by request. Admission to the park is $5 per car and includes the museums. For more information, call 573-265-7387 or visit MaramecSpringPark.com.