Mastodon State Historic Site preserves an Ice Age bone bed

Mastodon State Historic Site near Imperial preserves the Kimmswick Bone Bed. That is where Ice Age mastodon bones were found, along with evidence tied to early Clovis-culture people.

The site includes a museum, so this is not just a name on a map. It is a tangible link to Missouri’s deep prehistory and to the people and animals that were here long before today’s towns.

Missouri State Parks interprets the site and is the source to use for what was found, what it means, hours, trails, and visitor details.

For a visitor or new resident, it is one of Jefferson County’s clearest “wait, really?” places. That makes the park both a history stop and a good first source for the science behind the story.