Fort Davidson and the 1864 Battle of Pilot Knob

Fort Davidson State Historic Site sits at Pilot Knob in Iron County. It saved the dirt fort (an “earthwork,” meaning walls made of packed earth) and the battlefield from the Battle of Pilot Knob in September 1864. The fight was part of Confederate General Sterling Price’s raid into Missouri. A small group of Union troops held the fort against a much larger army. That night, they slipped away in the dark. Before they left, they blew up their powder store. This left a crater you can still see today. The site has a visitor center that explains the battle and the bigger campaign. You can also walk the fort’s earth walls. If you want to know the county’s history, start here. It shows how iron mining and the railroad made this place worth fighting over. Missouri State Parks runs the site and knows the hours and visitor center. The State Historical Society of Missouri is good for wider history. Confirm hours with the site before you go.