Tyson Research Center

View photographs from Tyson Trails Day, an "open house" event held on April 28, 2001, where visitors explored "history" trails and "nature" trails at Tyson.

The approximate 2,000 acres that comprise the Tyson Research Center have experienced a diverse and interesting history, spanning from the last ice age to present. The area has been used by early Native American cultures, farmers, miners, railroads, timber harvesters, the U. S. military, and St. Louis County Parks prior to its present use as a biological field station and research & education center.

1963- present

In 1974, a sizable portion of Tyson Research Center was included in the Beaumont-Tyson Quarry District, a 44-square mile area listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This designation derives from the presence of an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 chert quarries along the ridge tops in the district. The nomination document, available in the Tyson Administrative Office, also describes the Native American quarries and their significance.

1953-1963

Between the end of the Korean War and conveyance to Washington University in 1963, the tract was in federal hands and used for general storage. Agricultural surplus commodities (mostly corn and wheat) were stored in Buildings #360-1 and 360-2 during this period. The material was brought in by rail and dispersed into storage by means of an elevator which was situated midway between the two structures. Later, after the University acquired the property, it was observed that quail were very abundant in the vicinity of these buildings. This was primarily due to the fact that the walls of the grain storage buildings had been opened in places to provide for air circulation, and were providing rich "pickings" for fowl.

1951-1953

During the Korean War the munitions storage depot was administered by the U.S. Defense Corporation. Fifty-two bunkers were used for storing .30 and .50 caliber machine gun ammunition, as well as bulk powder. Oxidizing chemicals were stored in the chemical warehouses (Buildings 301-1, 301-2, 301-3). The large warehouses (Buildings 360-1 and 360-2) were used for the disassembly and crating of trucks for shipment to the war zone. Tracer ammunition was tested at several firing ranges within Tyson. Presumably, other war material also passed through the premises, however, there is no evidence that any radioactive materials, or chemical, biological or germ warfare agents were ever located at Tyson. Civilians working at Tyson during this period confirm that no such materials were ever present.

1950-1951

In February, 1951, 10 elk (2 bulls and 8 cows) were released into the park. By 1958 these animals had overpopulated and overgrazed the tract, and it became evident that supplemental feeding would be necessary. Therefore, 103 animals, almost the entire herd, were shot and removed between October 9, 1958 and March 2, 1959. Information collected during this project was published (Murphy, Dean A. 1963. A Captive Elk Herd in Missouri. Journal of Wildlife Management 27(3):411-414). The lower jawbones of these animals are now in possession of the Missouri Department of Conservation, in Columbia, Missouri. One male elk remained on the property after the hunt, and he was still alive in 1964 when the fence between Tyson Research Center and Lone Elk Park was constructed. Shortly after the closure of the last section of fence, the bull elk was seen on the county's side of the fence, contributing to the name of the county park. Later, additional elk, bison and other animals were introduced to Lone Elk Park.

1945-1950

The federal government retained management of the area during this period, but with little activity.

1941-1945

The property was acquired by the U. S. government by eminent domain in 1941 from Mr. Henry Mincke and, presumably, from the Ranken estate which had extensive holdings along the Meramec and U.S. Route 66 between Kirkwood and Eureka. Fifty-two large concrete bunkers, along with ten smaller vaults and assorted other buildings, were constructed and used primarily for munitions storage during World War II. Construction of the perimeter fence took some time and during that period, military personnel patrolled the perimeter of the property in jeeps, complete with mounted machine guns, and on mule-back.

1927 (and earlier)-1941

Aerial photographs taken in 1938 reveal plow furrows in the field along Interstate 44. One small farm in the area just below Blue Grass Spring grew watercress. A fenced pasture extended northward to the vicinity of the Twin Ponds. A second farm was situated along the railroad tracks at the north end of Tyson and its barn and barnyard were in the vicinity of Railroad Pond. Cattle and hogs from this farm roamed the hills on both sides of Tyson Valley.

1877-1927

From 1877 to 1927, a limestone quarry operated by lease in the Mincke Hollow area. A small town was established by the Hunkins-Willis Company and occupied by the men who worked at the quarry and their families. The Tyson Station of the railroad served as the town's major connection with the outside world. Old foundations of houses and the spring box at the Mincke Spring are the only obvious reminders that there once was a community in Mincke Hollow. The most southerly of the building foundations, on the west side of the road, is the former school house. Larger foundations at the north end of the hollow remain from former kilns, perhaps a company store and other larger structures. The Kimmswick limestone which was quarried, is calcareous shell fragments and fossils, thus it is well-suited for making lime. The quarry operation terminated in 1927 when the 50 year lease was not renewed by the property owner, Mr. Mincke.

Late 1800s - ?

Trees were cut and harvested in the upland forest near the farms and quarries. These areas were near such transportation arteries as the railroad, early roads, and (later) U.S. Route 66. A barrel stave plant in Pacific (located southwest of Tyson) was the probable destination of much of the white oak lumber. Also a sawmill once operated on the west side of Antire Hill, located just west of Tyson. It is difficult to place the peak time period of the lumbering activity.

1700s to early 1800s

Information on the early agricultural and settlement activities of western man in this area is scarce. However, we assume that life was not practiced much differently than elsewhere in the region, as described in various volumes on the history of the area. A good summary appears in Chapter 2, titled "Man and the River," in the Lower Meramec River Management Study, prepared by the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation, published in 1980 by the Meramec River Recreation Area Coordinating Committee.

1500 A.D. to 12,000 B.C.

The publication by Chapman and Chapman, Indians and Archeology of Missouri, 1964, describes use of the area by Indians and various primitive cultures back to 12,000 B. C. Many chert (flint) quarries are located along ridge tops in this area of Missouri. The chert from this area is of high quality and became a medium of trade for the Native Americans. Archaeological studies in the Crescent Hills area has included the determination of prehistoric heat treatment via thermoluminescense and the differentiation of prehistoric quarry areas via neutron activation analysis. It is probable that there was a Native American habitation site along the edge of the Meramec flood plain northwest of Tyson.

More historical information about the Tyson Research Center is available in the Tyson Administrative Office.