Learn about recent archaeological investigations at Van Meter State Park April 10

Visitors are invited to attend a lecture given by Professor Jack H. Ray on an archaeological project conducted at Van Meter State Park near Miami. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the presentation

will take place at Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 in Van Meter State Park.

Jack H. Ray, professor at Missouri State University Center for Archaeological Research, will present an overview of the archaeological survey that was conducted in the fall of 2013. He will discuss the archeological sites that date between 2,000 and 300 years, with a focus on those associated with large-scale quarrying of high-quality chert. This chert was processed into stone tools such as spear points, arrowheads, knives and scrapers.

Entrance to the cultural center is free and open to the public. Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays from October through March.

Van Meter state Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. For more information about the event, contact the park at (660) 886-7537. For information about state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Missouri Outdoors News for July 9, 2013

Michael Dickey will present "The Shawnee: Lords of the Ohio Valley" at Van ttp://www.mostateparks.com/event/60664/shawnee-lords-ohio-valley.

Meter State Park on July 20th.  More information on this event can be found at h

If you'd rather get up close and personal with a snake (or other critters) on July 20th, the Missouri Parks will offer Hug a Herp Day at Prairie State Park.  The details are at http://www.mostateparks.com/event/60232/hug-herp-day.

The MDC has issued a number of citations for noodling.  The citations occurred in NW Missouri.  The accused face fines of up to $1000 and jail time.  The practice is deemed harmful as it removes brood fish from their nests.  for the full story, visit http://goo.gl/PiWnH.

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American Indian Artifacts at Van Meter State Park

Van Meter State Park in Missouri (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A program on Native American artifacts will be given Sunday, May 6 at Van Meter State Park near Miami. The special program, sponsored by Missouri State Parks, will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. in Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center in the park and the public is invited.


Tom Hartline, president of the Sedalia-West Central Chapter of the Missouri Archaeological Society, will present the lecture on artifacts of early man to historic time periods of Native American habitation in Saline County. His collection of authentic examples of Saline County artifacts will be on display.

The program is free and open to the public. Buying and selling of artifacts will not be permitted.

From May through September, Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. For more information, contact the park at 660-886-7537. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Winter bird workshop planned Jan. 7 at Van Meter State Park

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MISSOURI CAMPING

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., DEC. 28, 2011 – Learn more about the birds you see outside your windows at a winter bird workshop Jan. 7 at Van Meter State Park near Miami. The workshop is sponsored by Missouri State Parks in cooperation with the Missouri River Bird Observatory and will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Dana Ripper and Ethan Duke of Missouri River Bird Observatory in Marshall will discuss the winter birds you often see at your feeders and how to identify them by their visual and vocal characteristics. They will demonstrate bird-banding by catching some birds that visit the bird feeders at the park’s cultural center. As a take-home project, you will have the opportunity to craft a “fun”ctional bird feeder by reusing a plastic drink bottle. 

On your way to Van Meter State Park, stop by the Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. From October to March, the center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Monday through Friday.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. For more information about the event, contact the park at 660-886-7537. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Native American Heritage Month observed Nov. 12 at Van Meter State Park

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO., NOV. 2, 2011 -- Observe Native American Heritage Month with a special program on American Indian involvement in the Civil War Nov. 12 at Van Meter State Historic Site near Miami. The free program will be given at 2 p.m. in Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center and the public is invited.

Steve Cottrell, author of “Civil War in the Indian Territory,” will discuss American Indian involvement in Missouri Civil War battles and skirmishes. The program will include a documentary on the Battle of Newtonia in southwest Missouri. At this battle in 1862, Missouri American Indians served on both the Union and Confederate sides.

            Steve Cottrell is a descendant of a Sixth Kansas Cavalry member who served in the Indian Territory during the Civil War. He has participated in several battle re-enactments, including the Academy Award-winning motion picture “Glory.” Cottrell is also the author of “Civil War in Texas and New Mexico Territory,” “Civil War in Tennessee,” and “Haunted Ozark Battlefields.”

            From May through September, Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Monday and Tuesday. Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. For more information, contact the park at 660-886-7537 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-349-2419(Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

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Celebrate Missouri Archaeology Month with Artifact Road Show Sept. 25 at Van Meter State Park

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO., SEPT. 16, 2011 -- Celebrate Missouri's cultural history with an Artifact Road Show Sept. 25 and a special exhibit throughout September at Van Meter State Park near Miami. The free event, part of the effort to recognizing September as Missouri Archaeology Month, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center located in the park.

Do you have artifacts or other archaeological objects that you want to learn more about or discover their history? Members of the Sedalia-West Central Chapter of the Missouri Archaeological Society will be on hand to help identify your objects. Pieces of collections from Archaeology Society members will be on display.  Buying and selling of artifacts is not permitted.  

            Throughout September, visitors will have an opportunity to see the Cody Complex exhibit.  The Cody Complex people existed 10,500 to 8,000 years ago. By identifying some of the points and knives the Cody Complex are associated with, historians know they were present along and south of the Missouri River in central Missouri. Tom Hartline, president of the Sedalia-West Central Chapter of the Missouri Archaeological Society, has compiled a collection of authentic examples of the six different types of Cody Complex artifacts from Missouri.

From May through September, Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Van Meter state Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122.  For more information, call the park at 660-886-7537 or call the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).  For information on state parks and historic sites, visit  mostateparks.com.

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Bring your ideas to an informational meeting at Van Meter State Park July 23

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO JULY 13, 2011 -- The public is invited to bring their ideas to an informational meeting on Saturday, July 23 at Van Meter State Park near Miami.  The informational meeting will begin at 2 p.m. in Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center located in Van Meter State Park and is open to the public.

Recent accomplishments at the park and future plans will be highlighted during the informational meeting. These include many projects by the State Youth Corps. Refreshments will be served.

Visitors are invited to share comments on the park’s services and operations. This informational meeting is part of an ongoing effort to ensure citizens have input on facilities and services offered in state parks and historic sites.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122 in Saline County. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling the park at 660-886-7537 or by calling the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).  For information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.