Hickory County: Water, Nature and History

Pomme de Terre State Park preserves open woodlands and savannas characteristic of the edge of the Great Plains. Pomme de Terre Lake covers 7,800 acres and was created in the early 1960s from the spring-fed Pomme de Terre River. The lake and the protected landscape offer different focal points for planning a trip.

Enjoy the Water and Nature

There are public swimming beaches on both sides of Pomme de Terre Lake in the state park. Beach access may vary by season. If you’re planning a visit to the water, keep this possible seasonal difference in mind and check access in advance. There are also eleven campgrounds at the lake, making it possible to plan a lakeside stay independently of a beach visit.

For boating, the state park has four paved boat ramps. Watercraft rentals, daily and annual slip rentals, and fuel are available at the marina. The ramps and marina services address different planning needs: launching a boat and finding a slip, on the one hand, and renting a watercraft or getting fuel, on the other. If you’re planning to use any of these services, check the marina’s current information.

Muskellunge fishing is also available on Pomme de Terre Lake. So, alongside a beach visit, boating and a specific fishing goal offer different ways to enjoy the lake. Which one takes priority can shape your day’s plans without tying all activities to the same access point or season.

The state park offers interpretive programs during the summer months. Since the schedule may change, it’s worth checking the dates before you arrive. Mule Shoe Conservation Area, in eastern Hickory County, adds a clearly located point of interest to the destination’s named natural areas.

History in Quincy and Wheatland

In the 1850s, the Butterfield Stage Line passed through Quincy. Since its completion in 1917, Quincy Public Hall has been the center of the social, religious, educational, and civic life of the hamlet of Quincy and the surrounding township. Its significance therefore extends across several aspects of community life, rather than serving just one function.

Wheatland is connected to another Butterfield story: from 1859 to 1861, the Butterfield Overland Mail passed through Wheatland as a stagecoach and mail route. The references to the Stage Line and the Overland Mail concern different places and time periods. The distinction is useful for placing them in context: the route through Wheatland is dated to 1859–1861, while the connection through Quincy is given as being in the 1850s.

Wheatland Missouri Settler’s Village recreates what a community in the Ozarks might have looked like in the 19th century. Offerings include historic cabin tours that take visitors back to the 1850s; visitors can also explore the village at their own pace. Tour times and access arrangements may change, so checking before your visit is recommended. Children can enjoy hands-on crafts and activities year-round, although individual offerings may vary.

Another historic feature in the village is the Butterfield Overland Mail Relay Station, built based on an old photograph. It adds a specific historic structure to the story of the route, while the cabin tours explore life in the 1850s. When learning about Wheatland, you can therefore distinguish between the portrayal of community life and the history of the mail route.

The Hickory County Museum is housed in the John Siddles Williams House. The house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Together with Quincy Public Hall, the museum offers another way to explore local history: one building is remembered for its community, religious, and educational functions, while the other is notable for its listing on the historic register.

Discover more destinations: Hermitage, Texas County, Mississippi County, Cape Girardeau County, Boone, Ste. Genevieve County, Pike, Callaway.

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