Babler State Park (formally, Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park) is a state-managed public recreation area located in the northwest section of the city of Wildwood, Missouri. A large bronze statue of Dr. Babler greets park visitors. The state park's 2,441 acres (988 ha) offer opportunities for hiking, picnicking, bicycling, horseback riding, and camping.[4] The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The park was created in memory of Edmund A. Babler, who was born on October 11, 1874, in Appleton City, Missouri.[5] He graduated from Missouri Medical College, now known as Washington University School of Medicine, in 1898, became a general surgeon, developed a large private practice in St. Louis.[6] The stories say that he spent the majority of his time devoting himself to charity cases and took much pride in his work for the unfortunate. His premature death at age 55 from pneumonia was a source of great sadness for his admirers and family. His funeral was one of the largest ever held in St. Louis.[6]
Moved by the public sympathy and respect, Edmund's brother Jacob L. Babler began searching for a way to preserve his brother's memory. Being a successful business graduate from St. Louis Law School, known today as Washington University in St. Louis, he had extensive investments in farm land and real estate. On August 20, 1930, Jacob Babler and his younger brother Henry Babler gave 868 acres of land to the State of Missouri, to be named the Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State park. These were difficult and trying times in the world, and although they continued to give more land to the state between 1934 and 1936, Jacob had to seek the help of friend John J. Cochran, Congressman, in order to obtain federal aid for the state in order to develop the park. This aid came in the form of designating two Civilian Conservation Camps (CCC) to be stationed within the park to develop the property. With the help of Conrad Wirth, Director of the National Park System, plans were developed to establish a trust fund that would support construction, maintenance, and operations at the park. A state bill was passed to formally accept the land and was signed by Governor Lloyd Stark on June 23, 1937. The park was formally dedicated on October 1, 1938 at a ceremony in which Harold Ickes, Secretary of the Interior, spoke before an assembly of 3,500 guests. This was when the statue of Dr. Babler was unveiled in its current location.
Jacob Babler continued throughout the rest of his life to support the park dedicated to his brother, and the Missouri State Park System as a whole. He sponsored a proposal before the Constitution Convention of 1944, resulting in a fund developed to earmark $400,000 a year for 15 years to be used to acquire and develop additional land in the Missouri State Park System. Overcoming the lull of park development during the Great Depression and World War II, some of the most popular Missouri State Parks were acquired and developed between 1946 and 1960. Jacob L. Babler's support of the park system earned him the title of "Father of Missouri's State Parks".[7]
Activities and amenities
The park offers several hiking trails, 2-mile (3.2 km) paved bicycle trail, 6-mile (9.7 km) equestrian trail,[8] campground,[9] and picnicking areas.[10]
^"Babler State Park: Data Sheet" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. November 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
^"State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
^"Babler State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
^"Babler, Edmund Adam". St. Louis County, Missouri: Biographies. Genealogy Trails. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
^ abTom Uhlenbrock (October 2, 2013). "Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Celebrates 75th Anniversary" (Press release). Missouri DNR. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
^(PDF). River Hills Current. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park. Fall 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
^"Babler State Park: Trails". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
^"Babler State Park: Camping". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
^"Babler State Park: Picnic Areas". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Babler State Park.
Babler State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Babler State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources
August 21, 2023
babler, state, park, formally, edmund, babler, memorial, state, park, state, managed, public, recreation, area, located, northwest, section, city, wildwood, missouri, large, bronze, statue, babler, greets, park, visitors, state, park, acres, offer, opportuniti. Babler State Park formally Dr Edmund A Babler Memorial State Park is a state managed public recreation area located in the northwest section of the city of Wildwood Missouri A large bronze statue of Dr Babler greets park visitors The state park s 2 441 acres 988 ha offer opportunities for hiking picnicking bicycling horseback riding and camping 4 The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 Babler State ParkStatue of Dr BablerLocation in MissouriShow map of MissouriBabler State Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationWildwood Missouri United StatesCoordinates38 37 14 N 90 41 45 W 38 62056 N 90 69583 W 38 62056 90 69583 1 Area2 441 acres 9 88 km2 2 Elevation587 ft 179 m 1 Established1937 3 Governing bodyMissouri Department of Natural ResourcesWebsiteBabler State ParkDr Edmund A Babler Memorial State Park Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtCCC constructed pavilionLocationWildwood MissouriArea2 325 acres 941 ha Built1935 1935 ArchitectCCCArchitectural styleRusticMPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933 1942 TRNRHP reference No 85000539Added to NRHPFebruary 27 1985 Contents 1 History 2 Activities and amenities 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe park was created in memory of Edmund A Babler who was born on October 11 1874 in Appleton City Missouri 5 He graduated from Missouri Medical College now known as Washington University School of Medicine in 1898 became a general surgeon developed a large private practice in St Louis 6 The stories say that he spent the majority of his time devoting himself to charity cases and took much pride in his work for the unfortunate His premature death at age 55 from pneumonia was a source of great sadness for his admirers and family His funeral was one of the largest ever held in St Louis 6 Moved by the public sympathy and respect Edmund s brother Jacob L Babler began searching for a way to preserve his brother s memory Being a successful business graduate from St Louis Law School known today as Washington University in St Louis he had extensive investments in farm land and real estate On August 20 1930 Jacob Babler and his younger brother Henry Babler gave 868 acres of land to the State of Missouri to be named the Dr Edmund A Babler Memorial State park These were difficult and trying times in the world and although they continued to give more land to the state between 1934 and 1936 Jacob had to seek the help of friend John J Cochran Congressman in order to obtain federal aid for the state in order to develop the park This aid came in the form of designating two Civilian Conservation Camps CCC to be stationed within the park to develop the property With the help of Conrad Wirth Director of the National Park System plans were developed to establish a trust fund that would support construction maintenance and operations at the park A state bill was passed to formally accept the land and was signed by Governor Lloyd Stark on June 23 1937 The park was formally dedicated on October 1 1938 at a ceremony in which Harold Ickes Secretary of the Interior spoke before an assembly of 3 500 guests This was when the statue of Dr Babler was unveiled in its current location Jacob Babler continued throughout the rest of his life to support the park dedicated to his brother and the Missouri State Park System as a whole He sponsored a proposal before the Constitution Convention of 1944 resulting in a fund developed to earmark 400 000 a year for 15 years to be used to acquire and develop additional land in the Missouri State Park System Overcoming the lull of park development during the Great Depression and World War II some of the most popular Missouri State Parks were acquired and developed between 1946 and 1960 Jacob L Babler s support of the park system earned him the title of Father of Missouri s State Parks 7 Activities and amenities EditThe park offers several hiking trails 2 mile 3 2 km paved bicycle trail 6 mile 9 7 km equestrian trail 8 campground 9 and picnicking areas 10 References Edit a b Babler State Park Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Babler State Park Data Sheet PDF Missouri Department of Natural Resources November 2017 Retrieved April 17 2018 State Park Land Acquisition Summary Missouri State Parks Retrieved April 17 2018 Babler State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved April 17 2018 Babler Edmund Adam St Louis County Missouri Biographies Genealogy Trails Retrieved September 12 2014 a b Tom Uhlenbrock October 2 2013 Dr Edmund A Babler Memorial State Park Celebrates 75th Anniversary Press release Missouri DNR Retrieved September 12 2014 Babler State Park s Historic Past PDF River Hills Current Dr Edmund A Babler Memorial State Park Fall 2011 Archived from the original PDF on November 12 2013 Retrieved September 12 2014 Babler State Park Trails Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved September 12 2014 Babler State Park Camping Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved September 12 2014 Babler State Park Picnic Areas Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved September 12 2014 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Babler State Park Babler State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources Babler State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Babler State Park amp oldid 1168170373, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
