Missouri Mines State Historic Site

Explore Missouri’s rich lead mining history at Missouri Mines State Historic Site, located in the heart of the Old Lead Belt.  The former powerhouse of the St. Joe Lead Co. now serves as a museum, showcasing historic mining machinery and one of the Midwest’s finest mineral collections. Discover how Missouri’s mineral wealth shaped its development—an interest dating back to President Thomas Jefferson’s instructions to Meriwether Lewis in 1803. Plan your visit today and experience the legacy of lead mining firsthand!

Missouri’s lead mining history dates back over 300 years, playing a crucial role in the state’s economic development. One of President Thomas Jefferson’s key objectives for the Lewis and Clark Expedition was to explore the Missouri River and assess its commercial potential, including the discovery of mineral resources. In his instructions to Meriwether Lewis on June 20, 1803, Jefferson emphasized the importance of documenting “the mineral productions of every kind: but more particularly metals, limestone, pit-coal, & saltpetre.” This directive aligned with the long-standing European interest in Missouri’s rich mineral deposits, particularly lead.

The first recorded mention of lead in Missouri came in 1700 from Father James Gravier, who noted its presence along the Meramec River. In 1721, French explorer Phillipe Francois Renault initiated large-scale mining operations near present-day Potosi, using enslaved labor to extract ore. Early mining efforts yielded up to 1,500 pounds of lead per day, which was transported down the Mississippi River to France. Over the next century, numerous small mining operations developed, leading to Missouri’s dominance in lead production. By the early 20th century, the state had become the leading lead producer in the U.S., with the Old Lead Belt hosting major companies such as the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Company and the Flat River Lead Company.