WATKINS MILL ASSOCIATION

OUR MISSION

In 1958, The Watkins Mill Association (WMA) was founded to preserve and support the living history of the Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, the last textile mill with its original machinery still intact in the United States. Watkins Woolen Mill, located northeast of Kearney, flourished from 1860 until 1886, when the final cloth shear broke; they continued portions of their manufacturing until 1898. WMA has cultivated an 1870s venue that highlights quality cultural, artistic, and historical education.


WMA efforts assist in bringing over five hundred thousand visitors from all over the nation to Watkins Mill each year. The site provides important information about work and life in the 1800s, including farming, homesteading, business, craftsmanship, technology, wool yarn, and cloth production, and the history of the Industrial Revolution in rural Missouri.

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since its inception, Watkins Mill Association has been the Historic Site’s “Friends” organization – proactively supporting its preservation and living history. Major contributions include:

  • Arranging for Watkins Mill to become a State Historic Site and State Park, with support from Clay County voters.
  • Promoting Historic Site recognition (1) as a National Historical Landmark by the United States Department of Interior, (2) on the National Register of Historic Places, (3) as a Clay County Historic Landmark, and (4) as a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
  • Underwriting restoration and ongoing care of the Mill – including roof, windows, paint, and Mill equipment.
  • Underwriting restoration and ongoing care of the Watkins Home – including windows, paint, masonry tuck point, and front porch renovations.
  • Arranging return of most Watkins Family original furnishings to the Home.
  • Replacing the Home’s formal parlor carpet and summer kitchen wood stove.


  • Advocating for the Visitors Center and Museum to be built.
  • Recruiting Volunteers and hosting the annual Volunteer appreciation dinner.
  • Promoting educational opportunities and resources at the Historic Site.
  • Helping launch a cooperative project with the University of Missouri Master Gardener Extension Program.
  • Funding an Internship position in the Museum archives and contributing toward the purchase of storage to protect artifacts housed there.
  • Hosting the 1999 annual meeting of the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums.
  • Providing seed money for the Visitors Center’s orientation video.
  • Funding ongoing needs – including sheep, Historic Interpreter costumes, processed wool, fabric and yarn for exhibits, as well as ongoing property maintenance.


Upcoming Events

OUR GRATITUDE

We would like to thank the following people and organizations for their roles in creating and preserving Watkins Mill.


Taylor & Patti Abernathy Charitable Trust

William J. Brace Charitable Trust

Clay County Historical Society

The Francis Family Foundation

Henry Frass Family

Forest Ingram

The Kemper Family Foundations

William T. Kemper Foundation

Caroline Martin

Betty & Byron McDaniel

Means Living Trust

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Lee Oberholtz

George Reuland

George Stilley

The Sunderland Foundation

University of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners of KC

Voters of Clay County, Missouri

Waltus Watkins Family

Herbert A. & Adrian W. Woods Foundation

membership makes a difference

Join the Watkins Mill Association to preserve and support the living history of the Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site. 


BECOME A MEMBER
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