george washington carver national monument

george washington carver national monument印象

• 

  JoanW230

  My first stop at this 210 acre monument (no fee charged) located a bit off the beaten path amidst lovely Ozark scenery southwest of Joplin, Mo. was the visitor center which had increased from 3000 sq. ft. In 2007 to its present 16,000 sq. ft. It is one of the best visitor centers I have seen at a National Monument. First stop was the 28 minute film "Man of Vision" which features some of the local NPS employees. Also at the visitor center are a Discovery Center with lots of terrific interactive exhibits, an observation deck and a bookstore.As great as the visitor center is, be sure to save time to take the one mile self-guiding Carver Trail through woodlands and restored prairie past many springs and a river. The walk goes past Carver birthplace (actual home is gone), statue of Carver as a boy, Contemplative Trail, Moses Carver Home, the graves of Moses and Susan Carver in the Carver Cemetery, and the bust of Carver. When I was there the temperature was in the mid 60's and birds were singing and a few hearty wild flowers still lingered. The boardwalk was my favorite part of the trail, but it was all beautiful.A word of caution-once you leave the paved portion of the trail, the ground can be wet so open toed or cloth shoes can get very muddy. In addition wheels on strollers or wheelchairs can easily become stuck. The contemplative Trail is also not paved and can be wet.

• 

  yearbook1

  There are plenty of things to interest young children here, especially if they are doing junior ranger challenges. There are lots of hands on exhibits, great visuals, and a trail to walk. I am only sad we did not have enough time to do it all. Allow at least two hours here.

• 

  kimberlyag_13

  This site is as amazing as George Washington Carver. The site encompasses the land and farm where he grew up, so by taking the walking tour, you get a real sense of how he became a botanist and scientist. The museum tells the story of his life through his possessions and artifacts from the time period. While he is buried at Tuskogee Institute, his family is buried here. It's so peaceful here, with both woods and prairies, and the National Park Service has made an effort to restore the land to how it would look in the 18850s. This site is just outside of Joplin MO, and it is worth the detour. A great respite from a car trip, and educational too!

• 

  Breitbarth

  I saw the George Washington Carved sign on the highway and I knew I couldn't miss it. Once I got there with my son, the place was so much more that I thought it could be. My son didn't want to leave; I didn't want to leave, and I cried a little when my son sat in absolute silence as the bust of GWC played his real recorded voiced.I look forward to going back with all my kids, and maybe grandkids one day, too.

• 

  Baugh1

  I've lived close my whole life. I came as a child and now I take my children. Always have a lot of fun!!

• 

  557devinm

  This is a place for young & not so young. (Children who can read will enjoy this much more than the very small, but there are things for the very small to enjoy) Trails for walking out in nature, hands on exhibits, clean, looks good too. We recommend it! Worth the time to go a bit out of the way (Easy access to highways). Great place about a Great man. Plan to spend at least an hour - a couple of hours would let you take your time and see most everything.

• 

  _therealjhill

  Park Ranger Douglas Bzar was great and very knowledgeable of the history of George Washington Carver. The place is calm and serene and has lots of inspiring history. It made my children's study of George Washington Carver come alive-The Hill Family

• 

  Okieamber

  I finally stopped in after wanting to for years. First off, if you can, go on a nice day and you can walk the trails. It was too cold/windy when I went. But I was able to view from an observation deck and it looked stunning. The museum takes a little while to get through, but once you see George Washington Carver's history you will realize it is well worth it. It is such a humbling experience. There is a short video to watch, which was nice. The focus lends towards nature and the park does a lot with children. They are always offering something for children to do. This place is beautiful and well worth the stop.

• 

  514susank

  It has lovely grounds and short walks. The old buildings are well preserved. They have a video that plays that talked about his life that was quite good.

• 

  MylarCXIII

  I was driving from Carthage MO to Bentonville AR and saw the signs for the park. On a complete whim, I decided to go check it out. I honestly was surprised to learn more about George Washington Carver and all that he did. I think the most amazing thing was that he knit and crocheted! I knew about his time at Iowa State, and had taken classes in Carver Hall, but never knew about his early life. I will most likely stop by again when I'm in the area.