Putnam County: Discover Nature and History
Accommodation in Putnam County
Landscape and Nature
More than 75 percent of the Mineral Hills Conservation Area is forested. This high proportion of forest shapes the character of the area. The Union Ridge Conservation Area covers 8,262 acres and is crossed by Spring Creek. Its habitat mosaic includes forests, grassland, fallow fields, prairie, and savanna. This presents a clear focus on forests alongside a variety of different habitat types as distinct nature themes.
The Union Ridge Conservation Area is located in Adair, Putnam, and Sullivan counties. The Spring Creek Ranch Natural Area is within its boundaries, where hunting and fishing are permitted. The landscape and activity information therefore relate to different aspects of the same conservation area.
The Morris Prairie Conservation Area is located in Putnam and Sullivan counties. The Missouri Department of Conservation manages it with the goal of preserving diverse habitats for fish, forests, and wildlife, and providing the public with nature-friendly recreational opportunities.
Visitor Information
The Union Ridge Conservation Area is open to the public daily from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Published restrictions may change, so check the current notices before your visit.
From Unionville, access to Lake Mahoney begins with one mile north on Highway 5. The Reservoir Trail then runs one mile west across the dam to the access area.
History and Recreation
The former Henry Clay Dean House Site is located in the Rebel's Cove Conservation Area and is listed in the Missouri Historic Sites Catalog. In Unionville, the Putnam County Courthouse was built in 1924; it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places along with the majority of the buildings around the town square. The Unionville Square Historic District is one of Putnam County’s National Register listings and was listed on July 19, 2002. These historic references range from a single former site to listings that include buildings around the town square.
The Putnam County Historical Society and Museum was founded with the goal of preserving historic buildings and sites. The Historic Trees Living Heritage Museum was founded in 1989 by the Putnam County Historical Society. Thus, both institutional preservation and the history of specific buildings and places are among the county’s cultural themes.
The Unionville Community Pool was built in 2015. It has a zero-depth entry area and a splash zone for younger children. It also features the SplashTacular Water Slide, with a winding tube section. These features set the pool apart from the nature and history attractions.
The Putnam County Fair takes place annually at Unionville City Park from Tuesday to Saturday after Labor Day. The specific dates vary from year to year, so check the dates for the relevant year before your visit. Nature, historic listings, and event dates offer different possible focuses for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Perry County, St. Charles, Taney, Crawford County, Texas County, Daviess, Callaway.
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