Gov. Daniel Dunklin’s Grave State Historic Site
Gov. Daniel Dunklin’s Grave State Historic Site, situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in
Herculaneum, houses the grave of Missouri’s fifth governor (1832-1836) and his wife, Emily. As governor, Dunklin oversaw the establishment of Missouri’s public school system and laid the groundwork for the University of Missouri. He also advocated for the humane treatment of prisoners.
Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site
Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site, located within the city limits of Columbia, contains the grave of
Missouri’s 22nd governor, Charles Hardin (1875-1877), and descendants of George Jewell. The most famous of Jewell’s descendants buried here is his son, William Jewell, who died while establishing a college in Liberty, Missouri, that bears his name. The cemetery also contains about 20 unmarked graves, believed to be those of the family’s slaves.
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Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site
Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site, near Arrow Rock, contains the grave of a prominent area doctor, Dr. John Sappington, along with many of his family members, including two Missouri governors.
Meredith Miles Marmaduke became Missouri's eighth governor, for nine months in 1844, after the death of Gov. Thomas Reynolds. Claiborne Fox Jackson, a strong supporter of the Confederacy, was beginning his term as Missouri's 15th governor when the Civil War began and he was driven from Jefferson City by Union supporters. Both were married to daughters of Sappington.
Sappington also gave the family slaves a tract of ground as a burial place. Known as the "Sappington African American Cemetery," it is located on Route AA, one quarter of a mile south of the Sappington Cemetery. It became part of the state historic site in 2014.
Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site
One of many examples of a state historic site with an interesting cemetery can be found at Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site.
Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site, in Ash Grove, has both a family cemetery and a slave
cemetery. The family cemetery houses the graves of Nathan Boone, a son of the legendary Daniel Boone, his wife, Olive, and several other family members. The slave cemetery has numerous headstones, two of which have been found with names inscribed on them.
Before planning your trip, visit Missouri State Parks' website for more information.
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