Last updated: June 20, 2024
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NPS Geodiversity Atlas—George Washington Carver National Monument, Missouri
Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the park. A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas delivers information in support of education, Geoconservation, and integrated management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.
Introduction
George Washington Carver National Monument (GWCA) is located approximately 18 km (11 mi) southeast of Joplin and 97 km (60 mi) southwest of Springfield in Newton County, Missouri. Authorized on July 14, 1943, GWCA contains 85 hectares (210 acres) and preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver, the distinguished African American agronomist, educator, and humanitarian (National Park Service 2016a). The national monument is the first birthplace site designated for someone other than a United States president, and the first unit of the NPS established to commemorate the achievements of an African American. GWCA occupies land that was once part of the 97-hectare (240-acre) farm of Moses Carver, a German American settler and farmer who purchased George’s mother when she was 13 years old. George Washington Carver’s childhood experiences on the Carver farm and its environment cultivated his sense of spirituality, love for nature, and an impeccable thirst for knowledge— traits that would later contribute to his many life successes (National Park Service 2016c). The national monument contains the 1.2 km (0.75 mi) Carver trail that passes the birthplace site, the Boy Carver Statue, a bust of George Washington Carver, the restored 1881 Moses Carver House, and cemetery.
Geologic Setting
George Washington Carver National Monument is situated in the Springfield Plateau, part of the Ozark Plateau physiographic province in southwestern Missouri. The Springfield Plateau region is characterized by relatively flat to rolling topography underlain by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks from the Ordovician, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian (Middendorf 2003). The bedrock underlying the monument consists entirely of undifferentiated deposits of the Mississippian Burlington Limestone and Keokuk Limestone. In the region of GWCA, these two formations are composed of dense, fossiliferous, light grey to white limestone that contain small amounts of chert (Thompson 1986). Surrounding the national monument are younger Mississippian rocks of the Warsaw Formation, Salem Formation, and St. Louis Limestone, as well as isolated Pennsylvanian-age exposures (Middendorf 2003).
Regional Geology
George Washington Carver National Monument is a part of the Ozark Plateaus Physiographic Province and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with a region that extends well beyond park boundaries.
The Geologic Resources Inventory produces digital geologic maps and reports for more than 270 natural resource parks. The products listed below are currently available for this park, check back often for updates as many maps, reports, and posters are still in progress.
- Scoping summaries are records of scoping meetings where NPS staff and local geologists determined the park’s geologic mapping plan and what content should be included in the report.
- Digital geologic maps include files for viewing in GIS software, a guide to using the data, and a document with ancillary map information. Newer products also include data viewable in Google Earth and online map services.
- Reports use the maps to discuss the park’s setting and significance, notable geologic features and processes, geologic resource management issues, and geologic history.
- Posters are a static view of the GIS data in PDF format. Newer posters include aerial imagery or shaded relief and other park information. They are also included with the reports.
- Projects list basic information about the program and all products available for a park.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2874. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for George Washington Carver National Monument and can be found on the NPS Data Store.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2945. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
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National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas
The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on geoheritage and geodiversity resources and values within the National Park System. This information supports science-based geoconservation and interpretation in the NPS, as well as STEM education in schools, museums, and field camps. The NPS Geologic Resources Division and many parks work with National and International geoconservation communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available.