Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Will Close Temporarily in Effort to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Will Close Temporarily in Effort to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

The following press release was published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service on April 10, 2020. It is reproduced in full below.

Republic, Mo. - Effective Saturday, April 11, 2020, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will close, and remain so until further notice. This closure will include the visitor center and other public facilities, the battlefield, trails, and tour road. The emergency closure is for the maintenance of public health and safety and is in direct response to guidance from state and federal health officials.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, communities, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and will lift the closure as soon as possible.

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield acting superintendent Russ Runge said, “It was a difficult decision to close the Battlefield., but closing will help protect the community, visitors, and employees from the COVID-19 virus. We will continue to be good stewards of your National Treasure and will welcome you back as soon as possible."

The park will notify the public when the park reopens and will provide updates on the Wilson’s Creek NB website and on the Wilson's Creek NB Facebook page.

The park previously announced cancellation of all public events in April including Park Day, Junior Ranger Day, Arts in the Park, and spring school tours. Public programs scheduled for May remain pending. Check our website and Facebook page for notifications about the park’s operating status and events in May and after.

Visit Wilson’s Creek NB website, the park’s Facebook page, and the Trans-Mississippi Theater Virtual Museum to take advantage of digital tools to explore Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. For details about other parks’ operations, check with individual parks.

Administered by the National Park Service, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield preserves the site of the first major battle of the Civil War in the West. The Confederate victory on Aug. 10, 1861, focused greater national attention on the war in Missouri, leading to greater federal military action.

Wilson’s Creek Administrative Office is located 10 miles southwest of Springfield, Missouri at 5242 S. State Hwy ZZ, Republic, Missouri 65738.

Tags: covid-19 covid-19 waso covid-19 mwr closure safety health and wellness health and safety

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service

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