KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifiedsNational Forest Seeks Volunteers

National Forest Seeks Volunteers

Posted:
By Ronnie Weston, Outdoors Editor - email

ROLLA, Mo. (USFS) -- Mark Twain National Forest is seeking volunteers to assist with a cultural resources field inventory of a historic mining town near Potosi, Missouri.

Volunteers will be working at the Harmony Historic Townsite on Mark Twain National Forest's Potosi  Ranger District, 12.5 miles southwest of Potosi, Missouri and 11 miles northeast of Viburnum, Missouri.

 

The Palmer Historic Mining District was listed November 2010 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Palmer Historic Mining District covers approximately 9,800 acres of forest system lands. This area is rich in Missouri's mining history spanning 18th through early 20th centuries.

To apply, please visit http://www.passportintime.com/ Click on "Current Projects" and then click on "Mark Twain NF".

To date, 137 archaeological sites have been identified within Mark Twain National Forest Potosi Ranger District boundaries, though only approximately two-thirds of the district has been completely surveyed for cultural resources.

 Within the un-surveyed acreage is an historic site that was once the town of Harmony. Harmony was first platted in 1837, but the town was later left unoccupied and exposed to elements. After decades, it is now known only through study of archival records.

"Mark Twain National Forest presently has a unique opportunity for volunteers to aid in preserving our rich history," said David Whittekiend, forest supervisor, Mark Twain National Forest.  

Passport in Time is a USDA Forest Service volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program. The goal of Passport in Time is to preserve the nation's past with the help of the public.

Volunteers work with professional Forest Service archaeologists on diverse activities such as surveys and excavation, rock art restoration, historic structure restoration, analysis of artifacts and more.

For more information on Mark Twain National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf.