Exploring Missouri's Legacy: State Parks and Historic Sites

by Susan L. Flader (Editor), Oliver Schuchard (Photographer), R. Roger Pryor

In this stunning book, four accomplished writers and lifelong conservationists team up with keen-eyed photographers to capture the compelling history, beauty, and recreational value of Missouri's unique state park system. Illustrated with over 200 full-color, large-format photographs and written in a lively and engaging style, Exploring Missouri's Legacy offers an irresistible invitation to discover Missouri's spectacular variety of geology, ecology, and culture.  The lavishly illustrated narratives go beyond the official brochures, telling the story of each park or site in a way that will enhance appreciation of its distinctive features. With a focus on the special places Missourians have elected to preserve to represent their state and values, Exploring Missouri's Legacy opens the door to a lifetime of exploration of middle America.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1992

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first saw this book when I was staying at Echo Bluffs State Park in Missouri last October. Since Echo Bluffs is one of the newest, if not the newest, Missouri state park, it wasn't included in this coffee table size book. In fact, this book is about 28 years old but still provides a good overview of Missouri state parks and historic sites. Reading it cover to cover turned out to be a slog fest though. It's just too dry although it dwelt on the struggles to get the lands, what grows there, and New Deal efforts which greatly improved many sites. I did find the places I want to visit this year - Missouri Mines State Historic Site (abandoned lead mines - yea!) and Osage Village State Historic Site which is not far from my hometown and I've never heard of it before. This book is divided into regions such as the Ozarks, Ozark border, Mississippi lowlands, big rivers, Osage plains, and glaciated plains. This book is only for those interested in this topic and is probably best just thumbed through. I see I've been reading on this for a little over a month, but it felt much longer.