Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area
The 1,534-acre Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area was mostly purchased and/or donated by Ruth and Paul Henning. An additional 200 acres were donated by the Herschend family in 1981.
Learning opportunities
This park is an open land space that offers a history of the area, particularly events after the Civil War. This is one of the areas where vigilante groups would meet, and the park is associated with a lot of relevant folklore.
Students have opportunities to learn about local history and botany through self-guided Homesteaders Trail excursions with numerous stops along the way.
Things to Do
The conservation area features 5.6 miles of hiking-friendly trails, including scenic glades and a nearly undisturbed Ozark headwater stream. A 3.4-mile Homesteaders Trail is perfect for student groups learning about regional history and conservation. The trail features 14 informational stops that highlight the area’s history and nature-related facts, such as plant and animal species, fish, and water bodies.
Students can explore rows of Sycamore trees, which homesteaders and travelers relied on to guide them to water. Groups can also discover remnants of buildings that once served the community, including the site of the Steward Store, which burned down in the 1920s. Visit the remnants of the Cox Home, the residence of James Cox, a Union veteran of the Civil War, and his family.
Discover once thriving businesses and homesteads, including the Jones House, Isaacs Place, Newt Cox Place, and other historical locations within the park. These tell the stories of homesteaders and families who survived off the land, utilizing waterfalls, fields, hand-dug wells and native trees to sustain life.
