Bollinger Mill State Historic Site
If you are intrigued by the mystique of the past, then relive the days of yesteryear by visiting Bollinger Mill State Historic Site. The 19th Century mill and it
Click on the image above to watch a brief video
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s neighboring covered bridge offer a glimpse of our shared history as a pioneering nation.
Construction began during the early 1800's. The mill was built by George Frederick Bollinger, who after receiving a Spanish land grant, settled in the area along with a handful of families from North Carolina. It was Bollinger's perseverance that made the mill and its dam on the Whitewater River a success and by the 1820's, a road linked Bollinger Mill with surrounding communities. Bollinger himself became well known, entered politics and served as a senator in Missouri's first general assembly.
 The present mill, dating to the Civil War period, is a massive four-story stone and brick building. Visitors can stand on the banks of the Whitewater River and observe the rushing water used to power the massive grinders which turned grain into meal in years past. The succession of three mills that have stood on this site represents more than 200 years of milling history.
The Burfordville Covered Bridge standing alongside the mill stretches its 140 foot span across the Whitewater River, which powers the mill. Begun in 1858, it is the oldest of only four remaining bridges in Missouri. The bridge is perfect for lazy strolls and quiet contemplation of its architectural wonder. Take a walk across the bridge and wander back in time when horse drawn carriages ruled the roads and bridges such as the Burfordville Covered Bridge offered safe passage. Don't forget your camera! You won't want to miss the photo opportunities that the bridge, mill and park provide.
 The mill and its neighboring bridge hold volumes of stories within their walls. Simply entering the mill will take you back through a century of time, where grain was pulverized into power by giant machines, where the rushing river water added to the deafening sounds of the heavy machinery and where the center of trade and commerce took place on the grassy knoll of the mill's lawn. Imagine the deals sealed by handshakes on the steps of the mill, the romance of lovers who stole kisses near the riverbanks, and the dark secrets that have been kept between the bricks for a century. Who knows what tales they could tell if those walls could talk!
Whether you tour the mill, enjoy an outdoor lunch in the picnic grounds, or laze away an afternoon relaxing in the shadow of these two National Register of Historic Places structures, a visit to Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is a story in the making. This historic site provides a wealth of tales and provides the perfect backdrop to build your own memories and to create your own story!
Lesley McDaniel, Park/Site Specialist at Bollinger Mill talks about what she loves about the site:
Check out the Bollinger Mill Photo Gallery by clicking here.
Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is located at 113 Bollinger Mill Road in Burfordville Missouri, 63739. The park office can be reached at 573-243-4591.
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Bollinger Mill State Historic Site
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