MARAMEC - It Even Confuses Google!

Most people in eastern Missouri are familiar with Meramec:  Meramec State Park; Meramec Caverns; the Meramec River.  There is even a Meramec Street in south St. Louis, and Meramec Station Road in St. Louis County.  Fewer are familiar with MARAMEC.  In fact, if you type “Maramec” into Google, it will ask “do you mean Meramec?”

 

Maramec Spring, near St. James, MO, is a lovely spot to visit on a crisp fall afternoon.  It was designated a “Natural National Landmark” in 1971 and is the fifth-largest spring in Missouri.  It is open to the public; a nominal fee is charged.  The current fee is $5 per car.  It is owned and operated by The James Foundation.  The park includes 1,860 acres; 200 of these are open to the public.

 

Spring

     *   Beautiful, clear aqua-colored water
     *   100 million gallons of water flow from the spring each day
     *   Constant 56 degree water temperature
     *   The spring and caves are the result of Karst topography
     *   A paved walking path allows easy access to the spring and fish hatchery

100 million gallons of water flow from Maramec Spring each day

 

 

Fish Hatchery
     *   Both Rainbow and Brown Trout are raised here
     *   Hatchery produces 100,000 trout per year
     *   Administered by Missouri Department of Conservation

Trout Fishing
     *   Trout season opens March 1^st each year
     *   The .6-mile fishing stream is re-stocked each day of the season
     *   Requires a Missouri Fishing License and a Daily Trout Tag
     *   Missouri residents under 15 or 65 and over need only a Daily Trout Tag
             (check current regulations)

Camping
     *   58 camp sites, all adjacent to the Meramec River
     *   10 of the camp sites have electric service
     *   Camping season runs from the end of February to the end of October

Iron Works
     *   First successful iron mine / iron works west of the Mississippi River
     *   The Maramec Iron Works was built in 1826 and continued operating until 1876

The site of the original iron smelter

Another view of the remnants of the smelter

This stone was used for shaping metal rims for wagon wheels

The two-wheel charcoal barrow is pictured to the right of the
wagon wheel rim shaper in the picture above

The wheels on this wagon have metal rims made right here

Maramec Museum
     *   History of spring and of iron works

Powerhouse
     *   Built in the 1920s
      *   Used water from the spring to produce electricity

The powerhouse generated electricity from the flow of the spring

Picnic Areas
     *   Located primarily around the old iron works
     *   For a “bird’s-eye” view of the area, take a short drive to the “scenic overlook”
           where additional picnic tables can be found

Mom and Dad on the scenic overlook

View of the Meramec River from the scenic overlook

Cemetery and Pictorials
     *   Located a short distance from the scenic overlook, the cemetery dates back to
           the 1820s
     *   Take the gravel road to the left of the cemetery to view a series of pictures
           of what the village looked like in its heyday
     *   At its peak, the village had some 500 residents
     *   The only real physical remnants of the village are a few chimneys
     *   Be aware, there is a steep grade on the road from the cemetery to the old village

A family plot in the cemetery

 

Headstone of a child who died at the age of 1 year

 

A series of paintings along the road provides a glimpse
of what the village may have looked like

 

Ozark Agricultural Museum
     *   Farm machinery and implements from the mid- to the late 19^th century, including
          many made of iron mined and smelted right here

 

Many of the pieces were made of iron mined and smelted locally

 

Maramec Spring Park provides an interesting glimpse into Missouri’s past, and is worth a visit.  You might consider visiting during ”Old Iron Works Days” – this year held on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13 (hours 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm each day).  Live entertainment, demonstrations of blacksmithing, wood carving and other crafts, a Civil War encampment display, and food booths/vendors mark the occasion.  Admission is $15 per car load.  For more information on Old Iron Works Days, go to

http://www.maramecspringpark.com/maramec/oldironworks/flyer.jpg

From Jesse James at MERAMEC Caverns to the Fish Hatchery at MARAMEC Spring…Missouri has its share of interesting Road Stories. 

www.maramecspringpark.com                     6 miles south of St. James, MO on Highway 8