1963 Map of Meramec Spring

About this map

Meramec Spring and the Old Iron Furnace anchor this section of the Ozark Highlands, where the Meramec River begins its course through a landscape of deep hollows and timbered ridges. The map records the early industrial roots of the region alongside mid-century developments like the Boys Town of Missouri and the Asher Lookout Tower. Cultural history is well-preserved through a network of small family and community burial grounds, including the Masonic Cemetery, Hawkins Cem, and Adams Cem, which are scattered among the drainages of Dry Fork and Piney Creek. Geologic features like the Natural Bridge and Marcellus Cave illustrate the karst topography that defines the Phelps and Crawford County border. The presence of Claypits and a Gravel Pit indicates the ongoing extractive economy that followed the era of the historic iron furnace.