Stephens Lake Park

Stephens Lake Park
Map
Opened2001

Stephens Lake Park is a park located in Columbia, Missouri. Today it serves as an arboretum with a lake, and a park spanning 116 acres. It is often used as a live music venue with the Roots N Blues Festival taking place here every year.

In the early 1800s the David Gordon House and Collins Log Cabin were built upon the land. A century later Stephens College purchased the land from the Gordon family. During the start of the 21st century, the city purchased the land and opened it to the public.

History

Main article: History of Columbia, Missouri

In the early 19th century, Captain David Gordon, a wealthy farmer from Madison County, Kentucky, moved his family and his slaves to the land due to debates over slavery. In 1818, Gordon built a cabin on the area that would become the park. In 1823, The David Gordon House were built using slave labor. After construction of the manor was complete, the Gordons turned their cabin into slave quarters.[1][2] The area was owned by the Gordon family for over a century. Then in 1926, the family sold the land to Stephens College.[3]

In 1999, allegedly the college was going to sell the land to private developers for $10 million. This caused outrage among community.[3] Near the end of the year someone purposely set the David Gordon House on fire.[4]

In 2001 the city of Columbia purchased the area[5] the same year it the park was opened to the public.[6] An amphitheatre in the park was opened on June 26, 2010.[3]

The park contains a marker of the historic location of Sherman's Dam.

Discovery Garden

The park contains a garden called Darwin and Axie Hindman Discovery Garden, it was built to honor Darwin Hindman and Axie Hindman.[7]

Wildlife

Enchenopa binotata have been found at the park.[8] According to the Missouri Department of Conservation; Stephens lake contains species like Black Bass, Catfish, and Bluegill.[9]

Concerts

The Roots N Blues Festival is held annually in the park.[10]

According to Concert Archives, eight concerts have taken place at the park.[11] Musicians like Dale Watson and Alejandro Escovedo performed concerts at the park in 2013. Amos Lee and Rosanne Cash performed a concert in 2014.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Stephens Lake Park – Park Page". City of Columbia Missouri. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  2. ^ Missouri: The WPA Guide to the "Show Me" State. Missouri History Museum. 1998. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-883982-23-2.
  3. ^ a b c "COMO YOU KNOW: Stephens Lake Park". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  4. ^ Claxton, Dan (2019-08-09). "Time and Again: Gordon Manor". KRCG. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  5. ^ Kienzle 2014, p. 114.
  6. ^ "Stephens Lake Park – Park Page". City of Columbia Missouri. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  7. ^ "Darwin and Axie Hindman Discovery Garden – Contact or Facility Page". City of Columbia Missouri. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  8. ^ Murphy, Shannon M.; Richards, Lora A.; Wimp, Gina M. (2020-06-16). Arthropod Interactions and Responses to Disturbance in a Changing World. Frontiers Media SA. p. 179. ISBN 978-2-88963-759-1.
  9. ^ "Stephens Park Lake (Columbia)". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  10. ^ Sadler, Erin McKinstry and John. "Roots N Blues N BBQ: 10 years in the making and still going strong". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  11. ^ a b "The Concert History of Stephens Lake Park Columbia, Missouri, United States | Concert Archives". www.concertarchives.org. Retrieved 2021-10-21.

38°57′04″N 92°18′22″W / 38.951°N 92.306°W / 38.951; -92.306

Bibliography

Kienzle, Valerie (December 8, 2014), Columbia, Arcadia Publishing Incorporated, ISBN 978-1-4396-4883-4