People climbing wooden stairs on a steep hillside toward a wooden observation tower - new deal and depression-era sites

Self-guided · County in Missouri

New Deal and Depression-Era Sites in Lawrence County, MO

Lodges, lookouts, bathhouses and public buildings put up by the WPA and the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.

Open the Missouri map · All states

Photo: Jeffrey Eisen on Unsplash

Lawrence County is one of 115 counties in Missouri. The record for this chapter of history is uneven, and some of it is hard to read. That is a reason to go and see it, not a reason to skip it.

Men gathered around a campfire in a forest - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives on Unsplash

Group of loggers with a two-man saw in a forest - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives on Unsplash

Man and woman sitting on black wooden rocking chairs - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: Aaron Thomas on Unsplash

On the record near Lawrence County, MO

The 12 nearest

14 listed sites on the record match new deal and depression-era sites within 120 miles of Lawrence County, MO, out of 15 listed sites of every kind within 25 miles. 4 listed sites carry Lawrence County as their county.

Cassbille Ranger Station Historic District25 miles from the center of Lawrence County · District · Cassville · listed 2003National Register of Historic Places
Roaring River State Park Shelter Kitchen No. 2 and Rest Room31 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Cassville · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Ava Ranger Station Historic District63 miles from the center of Lawrence County · District · Ava · listed 2003National Register of Historic Places
Bennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge Station70 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Bennett Spring · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
WPA Privy76 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Pyatt · listed 2024National Register of Historic Places
Lake of the Ozarks Recreational Demonstration Area Rising Sun Shelter98 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Camdenton · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Lake of the Ozarks Recreational Demonstration Area Shelter at McCubbin Point98 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Camdenton · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Lake of the Ozarks Recreational Demonstration Area Barn/Garage in Kaiser Area99 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Camdenton · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Houston Ranger Station Historic District103 miles from the center of Lawrence County · District · Houston · listed 2003National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreation Demonstration Area Dam and Spillway119 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Structure · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreational Demonstration Area Rock Bath House119 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreational Demonstration Area Warehouse #2 and Workshop119 miles from the center of Lawrence County · Building · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Lawrence County, MO. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

New Deal Sites in Lawrence County, step by step

1
Read the short history of the period for this area
2
Open the map filtered to the sites from that chapter
3
Visit the nearest site and read its full record
4
Ask what the marker leaves out and look for the rest
5
Add the site to a route that follows the period in order

What people in Lawrence County, MO ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Lawrence County, MO?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

Are the hard parts of this history included?

Yes. The record is shown as published, and the stories behind the markers include what happened, who it happened to, and how it was remembered. Leaving the hard parts out would make the stop less worth the trip.

Why are there so many of these sites near Lawrence County, MO?

Most areas have more than people expect, because the registers list every surviving building and site tied to a period, not just the famous ones. The list on this page shows exactly what is on the record nearby.

How a visit works in Lawrence County

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Lawrence County, MO the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Lawrence County, MO are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.