National Park Service Site · Republic, Missouri
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Organization Confirmed · last verified 2026-09-12 · What this means
An authorized representative of the organization has confirmed the listing, or an editor has confirmed it from a first-party source.
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused national attention on the war in Missouri. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield commemorates and interprets the battle within the context of the war in the Trans-Mississippi West.
Visiting
- Designation
- National Battlefield
- Owned or managed by
- National Park Service
- Address
- 6424 W. Farm Road 182, Republic, MO, 65738 · Map and directions
- Hours
The park grounds are open from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. This includes non-motorized and pedestrian access to the tour road. Motorized access to the tour road begins at 8:00 am daily when the automated entrance gate will open. The visitor center and museum hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, seven days a week.
Wednesday: Sunrise to Sunset · Monday: Sunrise to Sunset · Thursday: Sunrise to Sunset · Sunday: Sunrise to Sunset · Tuesday: Sunrise to Sunset · Friday: Sunrise to Sunset · Saturday: Sunrise to Sunset
- Getting there
From I-44: exit at Exit 70 (Missouri Highway MM). Continue south to U.S. Highway 60. Proceed through the intersection. Continue 1/2 mile to Missouri Highway ZZ. Turn right on ZZ. Continue south to Farm Road 182 (Elm Street). At the roundabout, take the third exit; the entrance to the battlefield is on the right.
- Periods interpreted
- American Civil War
- Official page
- https://www.nps.gov/wicr/index.htm (opens nps.gov in a new tab)
- Official contact
- https://www.nps.gov/wicr/index.htm/contacts.htm (opens nps.gov in a new tab)
Current alerts from the source
- America the Beautiful Pass not Issued at Wilson's Creek (Information) — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is a fee free site. No pass or charge is required to visit. Due to being a fee free site, America the Beautiful Passes are no longer issued. To learn about different pass types and where you can obtain them, including new digital passes, please visit the provided link.
- Navigation Warning (Information) — Some navigation systems on devices misdirect visitors driving to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Please note that the entrance to the park is at the visitor center located near the Southeast intersection of Hwy ZZ and FR 182.
Visitor centers
- Wilson's Creek Visitor Center & Museum — The recently renovated visitor center contains a staffed contact station, exhibits housing items from our extensive museum collection, a twenty-eight-minute film, an eight-minute fiber optics troop mo
Programs and events
Arts in the Park Concert Series - Northwest Arkansas Brass Ensemble
Dates: Sept. 12
Join us for a performance of period and other brass music by the Northwest Arkansas Heritage Brass Ensemble. The Northwest Arkansas Heritage Brass Ensemble has brought their musical performances to a variety of locations and hosts across the Ozarks including Pea Ridge National Military Park, the Bella Vista Civil War Roundtable and elsewhere. They last visited Wilson's Creek National Battlefield for our Spring 2023 Arts-in-the-Parks concert series. Note : This concert begins at 6:30 pm rather than 6:00 pm but seating still begins at 5:00 pm on the visitor center lawn. If severe weather is pending check Facebook and the park website for cancellations. If cancelled, there will not be a make up date. Remember this is an outdoor event so wear sunscreen and bug repellent for your safety. Dress for the weather.
Civil War Medicine
Dates: Sept. 13
Join us at the visitor center for a program on Civil War medicine presented by one of our volunteer docents. Experience some of the difficult choices faced by surgeons and soldiers when treating wounded comrades. Discover how medicine and people coped with the most violent conflict in our nation's history in the aftermath of battle.
Arts-in-the-Park Fall Concert Series - Holmes Brigade Shirkers
Dates: Sept. 19
Join us September 19th for another concert in our fall Arts-in-the-Parks concert series featuring the Holmes Brigade Shirkers. The Holmes Brigade Shirkers began as a small group of musicians gathering around the campfire to entertain their fellow “pards.” Since those humble beginnings, they have quickly risen to prominence within the Civil War community, becoming the premier minstrel group in the Four-State area. Dedicated to recreating an authentic historical experience, the group brings the sights and sounds of Civil War-era music to life for modern audiences. While they can still often be found playing by the fire, their shared passion and musical talents have led them to perform for increasingly larger crowds. Their notable clients include the National Park Service, the Springfield, MO Public Library, the Republic, MO Chamber of Commerce, the Rogers, AR Historical Museum, and countless individuals who’ve caught a glimpse of Civil War camp life through their performances. If severe weather is pending check Facebook and the park website for cancellations. If cancelled, there will not be a make-up date. Remember this is an outdoor event so wear sunscreen and bug repellent for your safety. Dress for the weather.
Arts-in-the-Park Fall Concert Series - Republic Community Band
Dates: Sept. 26
Join us on September 26th at 6:30 pm for our final Arts in the Park Concert of the season. Come listen to the Republic Community Band as they perform concert band music for all ages. The Republic Community Band is an organization that lives for one purpose, to get together and enjoy the magic of making music. They have brought a piece of this joy to the community by putting on various concerts and events throughout the year to showcase this love of music since 1982. The band is made up of all age ranges, backgrounds and career paths. This is an outdoor concert. Weather is expected to be warm and sunny, so bring sunscreen and a hat in addition to a chair or blanket for seating!
Civil War Medicine
Dates: Sept. 27
Join us at the visitor center for a program on Civil War medicine presented by one of our volunteer docents. Experience some of the difficult choices faced by surgeons and soldiers when treating wounded comrades. Discover how medicine and people coped with the most violent conflict in our nation's history in the aftermath of battle.
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