Please note that those activities in italics below are dependent upon staffing. Check with park personnel before including them in your itinerary.

I. Visitor Center

Your trip to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield should begin at the Visitor Center. Its museum displays, programs (a 13-minute film and a 6-minute battle map), hands-on articles, and bookstore take a minimum of 40 minutes to view, and will enhance your understanding of your visit to the the battlefield.

II. Ray House

Your group will be allowed time to view the inside of the Ray House and ask questions. National Park Service personnel will provide a short presentation that will focus on the pre-war lives of the Ray family, the fighting in the Ray cornfield, the use of the Ray house for medical purposes, and the political and economic effects of the Battle of Wilson's Creek and the Civil War on the Ray family.

III. Living History Demonstration

National Park Service personnel will present a brief program explaining the use of personal equipment and military uniforms at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, culminating in the loading and firing of a reproduction Civil War musket. Students will also be offered an opportunity to practice Civil War artillery drill (non-firing) utilizing a full-scale artillery piece.

IV. Bloody Hill Tour

Your group will be led on a walking tour of the Bloody Hill area of the battlefield, scene of the heaviest fighting on August 10, 1861 and the death of Union General Nathaniel Lyon. Your tour leader will discuss the events which took place on Bloody Hill, as well as the tactics and personalities that influenced these events. Please allow at least thirty minutes for this tour.

V. Battlefield Tour

The rest of the tour is self-guided and thus dependent upon the amount of time available to your group. The park brochure and numerous wayside exhibits located on the battlefield provide helpful insights into the events of August 10, 1861. Park rangers will be happy to offer suggestions about ways to expand your exploration of Wilson's Creek.

VI. Miscellaneous

Picnic tables are available near the Visitor Center on a first come, first served basis. Rest rooms and water fountains are available at the Visitor Center. There are no rest rooms or water fountains along the Tour Road. Appropriate clothing and footwear are essential if your group plans to do anything outside the Visitor Center.