This is the site of the northernmost battle fought west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. Union Home Guardsmen defeated soldiers of the pro-Southern Missouri State Guard here in 1861. During this battle, the Thome-Benning House, popularly called the Cannonball House, was pierced by a Confederate cannonball. Guided tours are available free of charge. Today, visitors can enjoy a campground, picnic area, hiking trails, or fishing and boating in a small lake or the Des Moines River.
