Battle of Athens State Historic Site

The Battle of Athens State Historic Site commemorates a significant Civil War skirmish that occurred on July 5, 1861, in Clark County, Missouri. During this conflict, Union troops led by Colonel David Moore engaged Confederate sympathizers under Colonel Martin Green in one of the earliest battles of the war in Missouri. The battle was strategically important as it helped secure Union control in northeastern Missouri during the early stages of the conflict.

This small but intense engagement highlighted the complex and deeply divided nature of Missouri during the Civil War, where families and communities were often split between Union and Confederate loyalties. The site serves as a poignant reminder of the personal and political tensions that tore through the state during this tumultuous period.