In 1958, The Watkins Mill Association (WMA) was founded to preserve and support the living history of the Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, the last textile mill with its original machinery still intact in the United States. Watkins Woolen Mill, located northeast of Kearney, flourished from 1860 until 1886, when the final cloth shear broke; they continued portions of their manufacturing until 1898. WMA has cultivated an 1870s venue that highlights quality cultural, artistic, and historical education.
WMA efforts assist in bringing over five hundred thousand visitors from all over the nation to Watkins Mill each year. The site provides important information about work and life in the 1800s, including farming, homesteading, business, craftsmanship, technology, wool yarn, and cloth production, and the history of the Industrial Revolution in rural Missouri.
Since its inception, Watkins Mill Association has been the Historic Site’s “Friends” organization – proactively supporting its preservation and living history. Major contributions include:
We would like to thank the following people and organizations for their roles in creating and preserving Watkins Mill.
Taylor & Patti Abernathy Charitable Trust
William J. Brace Charitable Trust
Clay County Historical Society
The Francis Family Foundation
Henry Frass Family
Forest Ingram
The Kemper Family Foundations
William T. Kemper Foundation
Caroline Martin
Betty & Byron McDaniel
Means Living Trust
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Lee Oberholtz
George Reuland
George Stilley
The Sunderland Foundation
University of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners of KC
Voters of Clay County, Missouri
Waltus Watkins Family
Herbert A. & Adrian W. Woods Foundation
Join the Watkins Mill Association to preserve and support the living history of the Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site.
Watkins Mill Association
Main Entrance of Watkins Mill
26600 Park Road North, Lawson, MO 64062
816-580-3387
info@watkinsmill.org
WMA
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 155
Kearney, MO 64060
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