Rutledge-Wilson Farm Springfield MO

Rutledge-Wilson Farm is a 207-acre park on the westside of Springfield, Missouri. Thanks to the Rutledge-Wilson families and local taxes, visitors can enjoy farm animals, trails, picnics, an attractive playground, and trails that include Wilson's Creek.

It's a great place to enjoy a day out for people of any age.

Some animals hang out inside the barn.

Others enjoy resting on a sunny day.

Still others head for the fences in search of generous humans.

And others get what they can find.

The playground looks like it belongs in a farm scene.

There's a pond near the playground.

The trails and Wilson's Creek are off to the west.

There's a store and restrooms near the parking area. 

When this was posted, there were no entrance fees.

I took all of the photos in this post. They may be used for noncommercial purposes. Kindly include  credit to Geoffrey W.  Sutton at suttong.com 2023.

African-American History in Springfield Missouri USA

Washington Ave. Baptist Church

Washington Avenue Baptist Church was built in 1885 for a congregation that was formed in 1867, two years after the Civil War ended. Rev. J.S. Dorsey was the pastor in 1906 when the lynching took place in Springfield's Square (see below). The current building was moved 200 feet from it's original location. It is now at 900 North Benton Ave, Springfield. See Drury page.

Benton Ave. AME Church, Springfield MO

Benton Avenue AME Church is an African Methodist Episcopal Church built between 1922 and 1926. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. When membership declined, it closed in 2014 (News-Leader). The congregation was founded in 1867. The current site was purchased in 1877.

In 1954, Rev. Oliver L. Brown was the pastor. He is the "Brown" named in the Supreme Court case commonly known as "Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas." The Supreme Court ruled that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional.

Pitts Chapel, Springfield MO

Down by the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge is Pitts Chapel, which has an active congregation.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge Sign

I went south to the square where the city proudly displays its historic Route 66 Marker. But there's another sign that tells the horrific history of the lynching of three Black Men in 1906.

There's more to learn about the history of African-Americans in Springfield and the surrounding area.

Africa- American Heritage Trail

Ozarksfirst History page

Pitts Chapel United Methodist

I took the above photos in 2021 with my Canon EOS 70D SLR camera.

Related Posts

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield MO

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

Book about Black History and the Church- The Color of Compromise

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Nathanael Greene Park Springfield Missouri USA

Lake at Nathanael Greene Park Geoff W Sutton 2017

Nathanael Greene Park located at 2400 South Scenic in Springfield MO (65807) is more than a place to enjoy a picnic in a pleasant setting. In addition to the usual park things like trails, picnic areas, play areas, and a small lake, this park has other attractions.

There are many gardens with a special focus such as dwarf conifers, roses, and an English garden.
















Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is a traditional Japanese Garden present since 1986. There is a fee so check the web site for details.













A Butterfly House is open on a seasonal basis- see the website for details.

Local life in the mid 1800s can be examined at the Gray-Campbell Farmstead. There's a cabin, barn, kitchen, granery, outhouse and school.




Trails circle the Lake and connect to the area Greenway Trail. On the trail outside the park is a marker for the Trail of Tears route.

Facilities: There are restrooms and a shop and classrooms in the Botanical Center.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Cost: No cost for the general park area but there are costs for some activities.
Website: http://www.parkboard.org/274/Springfield-Botanical-Gardens
Parking: I have always found a place to park even on busy event days.
Garden Map: http://www.parkboard.org/DocumentCenter/View/1482
Arboretum Map:  https://springfieldparksmo.mytreekeeper.com/