Welcome to the Watkins Woolen Mill Historic Site and Museum

 About the Tour

During your visit, you will learn the legendary history of the Watkins family and the self-sufficient community they built. Each tour has two parts: the mill and the home. Tours of the Watkins Mill include the engine shed, where the original steam engine is located, the three floors of the woolen mill and its original machinery, the gristmill, and the mill store. Tours of the Watkins family home include the two floors: the dairy cellar, summer kitchen, icehouse, smokehouse, fruit dry house, garden, poultry coops, and beehives. 


Reservations:

Reservations are not required but are encouraged. Tours are given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
To make a reservation, please call the site office at 816-580-3387.

Hours & Rates

April 15 - Oct. 31, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday
Nov. 1 - April 14, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sunday


On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available, and site buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, and Presidents Day.



  • Child (Ages 0-5): Free
  • Youth (ages 6-17): $4
  • Adults (ages 18 and older): $5

Directions

What to Expect:

Please plan to stay for 2-3 hours to experience the entire tour. Each building (the mill and Watkins home) will take an hour to tour. A museum and souvenir shop is located inside the visitor center. In addition to tours, the site offers a 25-minute orientation film that is recommended for all ages. There is no extra fee for watching the film or going through the museum; however, an extra half hour needs to be allotted for each of these activities. If you are interested in either the film or museum, please indicate your interest as well as your arrival time when you make your reservation.

The Watkins Home, Mill, and School are not heated or air-conditioned. Each tour involves considerable walking, so please dress accordingly.

Public restrooms and drinking water are available when the Visitors Center is open. The adjacent state park has several picnic areas. A covered shelter house can be rented by calling the park office at (816) 580-3387.


Field Trips

We strive to offer students unique opportunities to explore the past, foster a love for history, and encourage lifelong learning. Our field trip tours are welcome to students in all forms of classrooms: homeschool field trips, public and private school trips, scout troops, and sports teams. We offer specialized tours to various grade levels. We require one teacher or adult chaperone per 15 students. Please call the park office to schedule your tour at (816) 580-3387.

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