Chesapeake Fish Hatchery

The Chesapeake Fish Hatchery produces a variety of warm and cool water fish species. Over one million channel catfish are hatched annually, many of these distributed to private pond owners. Bass and bluegill are also produced for private ponds. Walleye, muskellunge, hybrid striped bass, flathead catfish and grass carp are produced for many of Missouri's lakes.

The hatchery is an ultra-modern facility consisting of 24 ponds, 12 raceways and a large hatchery building. The hatchery is open to the public and tours are available to organized groups.

Address: I-44 at Highway CC
Phone: 417-466-3421

The 3rd "Old Jail"

This imposing structure on the north side of the square was built at a cost of $16,000 in 1874 (two years before Custer's Last Stand)

Mt. Vernon, MO Pioneer Life

Grave of the Old Shepherd

In his book, "Old Matt's View of It," J.K. Ross wrote about the death of the Old Shepherd from Mutton Hollow. He was gored to death by a bull. A Civil War tombstone marks the grave of James Marion Wood, who met this untimely fate in 1910

Mt. Vernon, MO Cemeteries

Big Spring

When the Moore family first settled there, there were Indian camps all along the bottom land. This spring puts out up to 13 million gallons of water a day, and has been a popular family picnic site for over a hundred years. It is located just beyond Rebel's Bluff and Old Shepherd'

Mt. Vernon, MO Archaeology

Harold Bell Wright

Many know that Harold Bell Wright's, "Shepherd of the Hills" was the most widely read book of fiction in the history of publishing! Few know, however, that many of the places, events, and characters are based on actual models. There really was an "old shepherd of Mutton Hollow,&

Mt. Vernon, MO Famous People