Van Meter State Park

About Van Meter State Park

French researchers named the Native American tribe, named after the village of Van Meter, New Jersey, about 30 miles north of New York City. American hunters have for many centuries crossed deep gorges and narrow ridges known popularly as the Pinnacles. Today, the park offers outdoor recreation and interprets the history of the Indians, who considered the area generous. In 1673, Jean-Francois de La Rochefoucauld, one of the first explorers of France, drew a map showing the location of a small village on the eastern side of Lake Michigan.

Van Meter State Park contains the remains of this early village, and within the boundaries of the park lies one hand - an excavated mound of earth known as the Old Fort.

History of the Indians presents a large mural depicting the life of the Missouri Indians. For outdoor enthusiasts, the park offers the Oumessourit nature reserve, which consists of a picnic area and two picnic shelters under tall trees.

Before the Europeans, the Missouri Indians were known to the Europeans as Missouri Indians, a group of native people from the western part of the state, as well as other tribes in Missouri.

The Missouri Indians were called Oumessourit on the Marquette map, which can be translated as "people from a tree." The name was not called Missouri, but it was to remain, and the Missouri were not newcomers to the area. This name is the name of the first US national park, the Van Meter State Park in Missouri.

The Missouri Indian Village in Utz dates back to 1450 AD, and the Missouri Indian Village in Van Meter State Park in St. Louis County, Missouri, dates back to 1250 AD. The Missouri were typical prairie dwellers and had been here since the Osage of Illinois, who were expelled when the Europeans began colonizing the East Coast.

Longhouses spread to villages where, before the first contact with Europe, there were about 5,000 people living in villages with a total population of about 1,500 people.

People grew corn, beans and pumpkins on small arable land, probably in the depths of the country. The crops were planted in the spring, but people stayed in the villages during the early harvest phase.

Summer hunting began in June, mainly in search of bison, and in August they returned to pick up the harvest. Men went on other hunting trips in the summer, while most stayed the rest of the year.

Archaeological research has not yet revealed any human features, but the Missouri Native's ancestors, the Oneota, have built a double-buried earthwork on the north side of Van Meter State Park.

The Missouri were one of the first groups to reach the Missouri River and were visited by the French early on. The first documented encounter took place in 1682, when the Oneota met a group of Europeans on the west side of Van Meter State Park. The first direct contact with the Europeans came in the early 17th century, when two Missouri merchants were captured and brought to their village.

In 1715, the Little Osage Indians moved to western Missouri and founded a village on the Missouri River to gain better access to fur traders. The group met with Missouri Indians who were on their way to carry out an attack on the Osages Indians.

Missouri often prevented dealers from traveling far enough south to obtain weapons, lead and other items from them. The Missouri men formed the Big Osage and the Little Osages and were taken to Lake Wooldridge, which is about 50 miles from the footpath.

The gate at the foot of the Seestraße closes at sunset and bathing in the lake is prohibited. State fishing permits are required (see bulletin board for daily Creel limits). State fisheries regulations apply, but bathing in the lake is prohibited and a state fishing permit is required.

Boat rental is not available, but you can use one of the two boat rentals in the Seestraße parking lot ($5 per day) or in the park's boat rental.

You can reserve a picnic basket ($10 per day) for up to 30 days in the park parking lot or call 660 - 886 - 7537 to reserve it. This is a great opportunity to make your first visit to Van Meter State Park an unforgettable experience.

This trail is about 6 km long and runs along the west bank of Lake Wooldridge and passes the main parking lot of the park, which surrounds the lake. Van Meter State Park offers many recreational opportunities and historic attractions. If you enjoy the pleasant landscape and the relaxed surroundings, you can go hiking on one of the six hiking trails. This two-mile path circumvents the main entrance to the State Park by circling the lakes.

This 1.4 mile walk takes you to an Indian site known as Old Fort Mound Field to start your day and day operations. It also winds through the park's main parking lot and past the main entrance to the State Park and the Van Meter Museum parking lot.

This 4.8 km long trail allows visitors to explore the wetlands and forests of the Oumessourit Nature Reserve. This short trail (0.16 miles) follows the crest of a peak and ends at a field and an oxbow lake. A 20 km path leads visitors to the Vanmeter Family Cemetery (historical spelling), located on the north side of Van Meter State Park, just outside the main entrance to the park.

Van Meter State Park offers simple electric campsites, based on "first come, first served." These services include modern toilets, showers and water, and you can reserve a picnic basket for up to 30 days for $10 a day or $30 a week for a full day picnic. To reserve your picnic baskets (30 + days), please call 660 - 886 - 7537 for more information. There is also a limited number of picnic tables, making this a great place for picnics, camping, hiking and other activities.

The shower house is closed from 15 October to 30 April, the rest period is from 22: 00 to 6: 00.

Firewood is sold at the Van Meter State Park Fire Department, the park office and the visitor center.

The felling and gathering of firewood is forbidden in this park, as is felling trees or burning trees.