mine creek battlefield

To stand in the middle of the battleground, to look around and imagine the Union and Confederate troops facing each other across the waving fields of prairie grass -- well, it's humbling. There is also a monument to the fallen Confederate soldiers that you'll want to see, and they have a great bookstore.

Nice side trip off the Hwy 69 during my trip between Pittsburg and Kansas City. To get a better picture of how the Civil War torn apart the Border you can combine the battlefield site with a trip to nearby La Cyne to see the site where the infamous John Brown massacred a group of proslavery homesteaders. The battle itself was a result of the invasion of Price's invasion of Missouri and the Rebel retreat after their defeat at Westport (Kansas City). Mine Creek has a large section of the battlefield preserved and the walking trail is good for a hike through the fields and creeklands off Hwy 69. The visitor centre was closed during my visit (Open only M-F) though you can walk the trail and view the numerous information panels outside the centre without paying any fees. More historic civil war sights to be seen not far away in Mound City.

I had planned my trip through Kansas carefully so I could be at Mine Creek when the visitor center was open for its limited hours. Sadly, I found that the center had closed early for the season because of staffing problems. It is disappointing when a major Civil War site is treated as such. One would think that Kansas would treasure its heritage a little better and staff this place for even its scheduled run of 6 months a year.To its credit the place does try to explain the battle with a self-guided walking tour. But with no one to answer questions I don't really know why Kansas even built such a fine building and barely have it open. History and education should be important.

It was an interesting battle site, it seemed like some of the information that they presented/displayed conflicted with itself so I'm not sure how educational it was. Great place to go if you are looking for a nature hike though.

Our recent visit to Mine Creek occurred on a day when the Visitor's Center was closed, presumably due to reduced funds for staffing. Even so, the experience was enjoyable. Maps for self-guided tours were available and provided the information needed for an informative hike through the battle area. Although this cavalry battle is little-known outside of serious Civil War buffs, it was quite significant with thousands engaged. It's good to be reminded that battles took place in states other than Virginia.

The largest Civil War Cavlary Battle West of the Mississippi...great story, not often told. Battlefield interprets it well. Worth going out of your way to see.

This is a nice place to visit to view the history of the largest Civil War battle held in Kansas. This was a surprise as it was only a mile away from the vendor that I was visiting. If you are interested in history, this is a good out of the way place to visit.

This is a great historic site. This was one of very few cavalry only Civil War battles. The museum is on the small side, but very nice. The young gentleman on duty the morning I stopped was very pleasant and informative. There is a walking path through the actual battle area. When you stop in, you will find out more about the role the state played in the war. You will discover how this battle came about and its importance. You will learn of the skirmishes before and where they took place. It is easy to get to, just south of Pleasanton and then pretend you're going to Mound City. While in the area, stop in Pleasanton to see the bust of a General named Pleasanton.

I visited the Mine Creek Battlefield after visiting Fort Scott National Historic Site. It didn't take long to reach going up US 69, which is an excellent four lane highway with not very much traffic. Both historic sites and be seen on the same day. Mine Creek is at the exit for Mound City, KS, the county seat of Linn County. The battlefield is just to the west of US 69. The state of Kansas has built a new visitor center at the battlefield which tells what happened here in the Fall of 1864. General Sterling Price, who was from Missouri, and had formed an army of Missouri Home Guards in 1861 to fight the Union Army, became a leading general in the Confederate Army, and had been forced to retreat to Arkansas when the Union Army gained the upper hand in Missouri. He had always wanted to come back to Missouri and finally decided the time was right in the Autumn of 1864. He and his Confederate Army traveled up to Southeast Missouri, then west towards the state capital of Jefferson City, and then finally to Kansas City, which was known as Westport back then. Westport was where a battle with Union forces from Kansas and Missouri defeated him, and he started a retreat south, along the state line of Kansas and Missouri. Union forces caught up with him at Mine Creek and delivered the ultimate blow, basically destroying his army, and scattering what remained. The visitor center exhibits explain how the Union Army quickly won the battle, mainly due to superior rifles and equipment. Confederate forces were no longer able to mount a credible threat again in the area west of the Mississippi River for the duration of the war. Besides the visitor center, there is a trail that goes across the field where the battle was fought, and a booklet describes in detail what happened at various points in the battlefield. Mine Creek is something worthwhile to visit for anyone interested in Civil War History.

Small but interesting. It very affortable and you can spend as little or as much time as you like. The guide knows his stuff and loves to spend one on one time with the visitors.

Largest preserved CW battlefield this side of the Mississippi. Great museum with well versed curators working there. Little know but pivitol battle site.

Stopped by when the visitor center was closed, but they do have plenty of sinage explaining what happened there. Worth a stop when you are in the area.

We traveled past Mine Creek Battefield twice over the past couple of years when going down to Arkansas. Both times the museum was not open, and the door was locked. We checked their website, and hours sign posted outside the building and they both said that the museum should have been open. I expect much more out of a state run museum. However, there are a few signs outside the museum which show you the battle, and you can see the field where the battle took place. I just wish the museum had actually been open.