battle of lexington state historic site

The Battle of Lexington State Historic Site includes not just the old Anderson House – built well before the Civil War and once a hemp producing plantation – but it was also a hospital during that historic battle: The Battle of the Hemp Bales. The museum, also located on the grounds, offers an intricate history of the Civil War and Lexington's role – which went far beyond that battle (won by the Confederates). The Union troops later took over Lexington and it is also the town in which infamous outlaws Frank and Jesse James surrendered at the end of the war.

The Battle of Lexington was one of the most unusual of the Civil War in that Confederate troops used large bales of hemp as shields to move closer to the entrenched Federals and forced them to surrender. The Oliver Anderson House was fought over bitterly and changed hands 3 times in the course of the battle. There are still many bullet holes and battle scars visible in various parts of the house. These can be seen on the tour of the 2-story dwelling. Most of the furniture in the house is not original to the Andersons, but to a later owner or acquired after the house was turned over to the state.A Visitor's Center has a short film about the battle and some exhibits to look at.There are other sites to see in town, including the cannonball in the courthouse column.

Like most historic sites that I visit, I researched the history of the town and the Battle of Lexington before going. It allows me to take in so much more of any comments made by a tour guide. The park and visitor's center is closed many Mondays and Tuesdays, but just check their website for hours. Also, on the website, audio tours are available for downloading. I would definitely advise using these to get the most of the Lexington experience. There is no charge for the audio tours, and the information is quite detailed about the battle, the downtown area, cemeteries, and the Anderson home. We were able to get a guided tour of the Anderson home (through the visitor's center), and it was really fascinating, especially for $4 per person. Tilton Davis purchased the home after the Civil War was over, he chose to not repair the rifle fire and cannonball damage to the home. The damage is quite extensive. In what was the operating room, a golfball-sized cannonball is still lodge in a door jamb. It is a remarkable piece of Civil War history.

The Battle of Lexington State Historical Site has so much to offer for young and old. The visitor center has a theater with a video about the site that should not be missed. The center's displays and hands on experiences are relevant and educational. The Anderson House tour explores the main floor, the second floor, as well as the basement. Friendly, knowledgeable guides are happy to answer questions. Allow plenty of time to explore the grounds, including the battlefield.

This was much better than we thought it would be. We took the tour of the home (paid), with the museum and the movie it put the Civil War back up front. It is very well done and the home was pretty much as it was in the Civil War, complete with holes from the shooting and the cannons. They have done a great job and we enjoyed the whole day, which included doing the driving tour of the many different parts of Lexington.

The Battle of Lexington, MO or "Battle of the Hemp Bales" may be unique in Civil War history. The Hemp or Marijuana bales were moved forward to protect advancing Southern troops. But there was a risk that the Marijuana bales would catch on fire, thus the bales were soaked with water to prevent them from burning. Some did catch on fire, but it is unknown how many troops were high... (Some wags believe this resulted in a surge in recruitment by Confederates of young men from Colorado and Oregon :)Confederate General Price's men advanced behind mobile (Marijuana) breastworks, made of hemp, close enough to take the Union works at the Anderson House. Northern Colonel Mulligan requested surrender terms, turned in their weapons,and gave the South control of much of western Missouri.Admission is Free, but optional guided tour of Anderson House is $4.00

Disclosure--I grew up in Lexington. Having said that, I had not been to this site since I was a young sprout and I recently went back out of nostalgia. There is a new (not sure how new) visitor's center there, and it was absolutely fantastic! One of the best displays I have ever seen at a Civil War battlefield, and I've been to a lot of the big ones. There are some letters displayed in there from a citizen of Lexington written to a family member. Take the time to read them because they are incredibly fascinating! They capture the feel of what it was like to live in those times in a way that few of the primary documents of the time do. Also, if it's nice weather, it's worth wandering around the battlefield. A lot of the terraces have been plowed away in attempts to restore the kitchen gardens, etc. but you can still see where the troops dug in and there are gorgeous views of the Missouri River. The Anderson House itself is of course an awesome piece of history because it was used by both sides as a field hospital. Unfortunately, that is not something that has improved with time. The house used to be a lot neater to tour because more of it was open to the public and it hadn't been as "staged" as it is now with fake displays that are supposed to give you a feel for what it must have been like when it was a military hospital that are cheesy in my opinion. Plus, you used to be able to see the bloodstains all over the floors of the upper level rooms and it looks like most of that has been covered over by rugs and fake hospital displays. Oh, well, there's still plenty of bullet holes in the walls and the masonry to look at! Also, there were a ton of employees wandering around the house in period dress which would have been fine if they were there to offer tours or explain features of the house, but their sole purpose seemed to be shadowing people to make sure they didn't take anything because they would follow people from room to room watching them and saying nothing. It didn't make you want to linger to look at things because it was uncomfortable. PS, when you walk around the outside, you will see a window that is bricked over. That is supposedly because of a ghost that would go down the stairs every night and then go screaming up the stairs and out a window on one of the upper levels. Supposedly, the window was bricked up to see if that would solve their ghost problem and it did. There was a feature about it on the evening news that you can look up on YouTube, so if you're a ghost story lover, this is also a good attraction. This is not a site that is particularly wheelchair friendly, FYI. The stairs going into the house and inside the house are steep, but the visitor's center is accessible to all. Also, I bought some of the fresh dried herbs that were grown in the kitchen gardens for use at home. Good stuff....

The Battle of Lexington State Site has been redone over the years into a very respectable historical site. The visitors center has a number of artifacts from the era, as well as a short video on the Anderson Home and battlefield. And don't forget to check out the cannon ball that is still located in the columns of the court house from the battle.

You can see the bullet holes in the bricks from the Civil War! Lexington is a small town on the Missouri River. Historical homes sit on both sides of the main road that lead into the Historic square. You can walk from shop to shop and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of locals.There are 5 different historical sites in Lexington. On the Missouri River you can see where Lewis and Clarke camped on their trip into the "wild"; there is this historical Battle Of Lexington site where you'll learn how the Union Army fought off the Confederate Army (with one of the only black plattoons!); around the corner from the house is a site where the plattoon fought off troops coming up hill from the river, using hemp bales as cover; there is Wentworth Military school ( I often threaten to send my children there!); and don't forget to see the cannonball stuck in the Court House! After you've spent some time there, you'll have a desire to buy one of the grand old homes! (I keep trying to convince my husband we need another project!) Definately worth the trip. Great for children and adults. There are a couple of war memorials that you shouldn't miss, either. (One has lots of stairs, though!)This is just a stone's through from KC.

So much to see, excellent displays in the Visitors Center. Do not miss the films! Tour the house for authentic step back into the past. Civil War battle site.

battle field in on a huge bluff overlooking the missouri river. well explained and laid out. several more sites in the area and the town is extremely well preserved with marked and numbered driving trails and info. a delightful visiting and exploring oppurtunity. if you like history, vintage homes and buildings of the early 1800s, this is worth the day.

I love the old Anderson House that was used during the Civil War for both Union and Rebel armies. The Battle of the Hemp Bales re-enactment is always exciting with all the people in period dress and the battle skirmish in the afternoon.

This is a small town of approx 4.5K people. Warm friendly town that is built on history, the downtown will give you a wonderful day to explore all the antique shops that this little town has to offer. You should plan to visit the Anderson House, Battlefield, Confederate Park, Courthouse (see the cannonball that still remains in the Column, it is a real cannonball), The Memorial for Veterans, Gray-Stone Manor, and Wentworth Military Academy. Big River Valley is another nice attraction if you are a horse or fishing person. I think you will find we have some great little places to eat as well.

Quaint little museum. Would be interesting during the battle reenactment. However, the three times I have visited the site, the Anderson House has not been open for tours.

Although it was a rainy day, the organisers pulled it off very well. The museums and outdoor areas are informative and interesting. This was a great way to spend family time and be educational at the same time! Great destination for homeschoolers.