photos courtesy Mountain Echo newspaper    

Every third year a full-scale reenactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob is staged, attracting tens of thousands of spectators to the Valley.  Be sure to make your plans to attend the next two re-enactments scheduled during the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial commemorations. We suggest that you make your lodging reservations very early for the reenactments.  Now, would not be too soon to secure your reservations.

The towns of Pilot Knob, Ironton and Arcadia were of strategic importance as the southern terminus of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad.  Union soldiers occupied Pilot Knob, the Arcadia Valley region and Black River area throughout the war.  Fort Davidson, the target of the Battle of Pilot Knob in 1864, is a hexagonal earthwork constructed by the Union Army and stands 300 yards from the base of Pilot Knob Mountain.  The assault on Fort Davidson by Confederate troops left 1,300 soldiers dead, missing or wounded. The fort and site are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  To read a more detailed account of the Battle of Pilot Knob and to see Fort Davidson Historic Site and Museum, click here.

Fort Davidson State Historic Site serves as a memorial to those who gave their lives on the battlefield and the Visitor's Center provides detailed information about the battle through the use of artifacts, a diorama, and film. Additionally, a self-guided driving tour around the towns of Arcadia, Ironton and Pilot Knob, directs visitors to some of the most significant points on the battlefields.   Each stop is marked by a red granite monument. There are many civil war historic sites in our region.  Please take our website tour of these Civil War Sites and then download the driving tour so you'll see everything while visiting our region. 

Not only is this region rich in Missouri Civil War Sites and historic towns, settlements and villages, our abundant recreational opportunities and Black River Float Trips have earned our region the title of "Outdoor Recreation Capital of Missouri".  To learn about our beautiful vacation paradise, and to tour our lodging facilities and campgrounds please see www.missouri-vacations.com

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