Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Missouri History — Grand 1860 antebellum home in New Madrid — built by merchant William Hunter in the “Bootheel” region, this 15-room mansion survived the aftermath of the great New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812!
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Missouri |
| Entry Fee | Free admission! |
About Hunter-Dawson
Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site in New Madrid County preserves an 1860 mansion that survived the Civil War in one of Missouri’s most historically significant regions. New Madrid County was the epicenter of the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes — the most powerful earthquakes in recorded North American history (estimated magnitude 7.5-8.0), which rang church bells in Boston, reversed the Mississippi River, and created Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee.
Things to Do
Touring the antebellum mansion with original furnishings, learning about the 1811-1812 earthquakes, exploring the Missouri Bootheel region, and visiting nearby New Madrid — where the Mississippi River ran backwards.
Visiting Today
The 1860 Italianate mansion features original furnishings, a period kitchen, and beautiful gardens. The nearby New Madrid Historical Museum tells the dramatic earthquake story. The Mississippi River is just blocks away. New Madrid’s claim as the site of North America’s most powerful recorded earthquakes makes this a uniquely compelling destination.
Getting There
Located on Dawson Road in New Madrid, Mississippi County — in Missouri’s Bootheel. The Mississippi River is 2 blocks east. Combine with the New Madrid Historical Museum and earthquake-created Reelfoot Lake (across the TN border) for a complete seismic heritage experience.
Insider Tips
Plantation mansion: The Hunter-Dawson House (1860) is one of the finest antebellum homes surviving in Missouri — a 15-room mansion reflecting the wealth of Missouri’s cotton plantation economy. Pro tip: Southeast Missouri (the Bootheel) was culturally part of the Deep South — cotton and slavery dominated the economy. New Madrid earthquake: The Bootheel sits on the New Madrid Seismic Zone — the most powerful earthquakes in US history (1811-1812) struck here.
Best Time to Visit
Spring/fall: Comfortable touring weather. Summer: Full guided tours. December: Holiday candlelight tours. Year-round: House tours available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How powerful were the New Madrid earthquakes?
The New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 were the most powerful in the contiguous US — estimated at magnitude 7.5-8.0. Three major quakes over three months rang church bells in Boston (1,000 miles away), caused the Mississippi River to flow backward temporarily, and created Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. The seismic zone remains active — a major quake could devastate cities from Memphis to St. Louis.
