Trail of Tears State Park

A trailhead at Trail of Tears State Park

"Trail of Tears state park, MO" by kpc is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Quick Facts

Location:

Jackson, MO

Significance:

The park’s visitor center offers exhibits focused on both the forced removal of the Cherokee People and the area’s natural history.

Designation:

Certified Site

MANAGED BY:

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Amenities

29 listed

Accessible Rooms, Accessible Sites, Amphitheater, Beach/Water Access, Benches/Seating, Boat Ramp, Dock/Pier, Electrical Hookup - Boat/RV, Fire Pit, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Playground, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Sewer Hookups - Boat/RV, Showers, Tactile Exhibit, Telephone, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Water - Hookup - Boat/RV

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Established in 1957, the Trail of Tears State Park stands in memoriam to one of the most tragic events in American history. In 1830, the United States Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. This law required native tribes to vacate their ancestral lands and relocate to reservations in Oklahoma, then simply called Indian Territory. Then, in 1835, a small group of the Cherokee Nation signed the Treaty of New Echota, which divided the Cherokee People into two factions—those that supported the treaty and those that opposed it.

In May 1838, the U.S. Army, bolstered by various state militia groups, forcibly removed over 16,000 Cherokee from their homelands so that white settlers could move in. This journey, now referred to as the Trail of Tears, saw more than a thousand Cherokee, mainly the old, young, and infirm, perish on this brutal forced march. Thousands more died shortly thereafter from the exposure, disease, and starvation they had suffered while en route to the reservations.

The park’s visitor center offers exhibits focused on both the forced removal of the Cherokee People and the area’s natural history. A 23-minute documentary titled “Trail of Tears” is also available on demand. Interpretive programs are scheduled throughout the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  

Those looking to spend time outdoors will enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming. There are also two playgrounds within the park.Picnic sites are scattered throughout the park, some of which are accessible to those with disabilities. The park’s two covered pavilions are available for rent or, if not reserved, can be used on a first-come-first served basis for free. The campground offers basic, electric, and sewer/water/electric/water campsites, along with a special use camping area reservable for groups only.

To reserve a pavilion, call [phone]. Camping reservations may be made by calling [phone]. To reserve the special use camping area, call [phone]. For more specific information on the park, such as hours of operation, weather, and more, visit their website at Trail of Tears State Park.