In a small, rural setting in the Missouri foothills stands a national memorial to one of our nation's greatest educators, scientists, and innovators. George Washington Carver National Monument , located in Diamond, Missouri highlights Dr. Carver's life from a tumultuous childhood to an innovative scientist and chemist. The Monument is located at the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver, who spent the first 10-12 years of his life on the Carver Farm.

The George Washington Carver National Monument includes a visitor center and museum, a variety of educational films on Dr. Carver's life, and a 3/4 mile Carver Trail including an 1881 historic home and other historic sites, and a beautiful nature walk through woodlands, streams, and tall grass prairie. Guided tours of the park are available to school groups and visitors (reservations are requested).

An African American Traveling Trunk is available for loan, featuring the life of George Washington Carver as well as other African Americans of the 19th and 20th centuries. The trunk is equipped with educational materials and hands-on tools, videos, curriculum guides, toys, posters, and a tabletop display. The trunk is an ideal educational tool for grades 3-8.

A variety of educational programs are presented by Park Rangers, and can be adapted to different grade levels. Available programs include the life of George Washington Carver; slavery and the post-Civil War era; 19th century cultural demonstrations such as candle dipping, Dutch oven cooking and other programs; nature programs such as wildflowers, birds, prairies, and environmental education; and other programs such as recycling and National Park Service careers. A 30-minute dramatic interpretation of the boyhood of George Washington Carver is available for grades 3-8. Through sharing the life of George Washington Carver, children are inspired to believe in their abilities and say "I CAN!" Arrangements can be made for programs to be presented at the park or at schools.

Free educational materials are available to students and teachers, including a 4th grade curriculum package for educators. Videos and films are available for loan at no cost. The park also offers a book store with one of the best selections of African American history available in the four-state area.

George Washington Carver National Monument is a tribute to a young enslaved African American boy who, from a humble beginning, overcame great odds to become an outstanding scientist and humanitarian. George and his mother Mary were kidnapped when he was just an infant. George was returned to the white landowners, Moses and Susan Carver, who raised him as their own child. His education began with a spelling book provided by Susan Carver.

At about the age of 10, he left the Carver farm to attend the Lincoln School in Neosho, Missouri, where he lived with Andrew and Mariah Watkins. Mariah, a mid-wife, taught him about medicinal plant uses and introduced him to Christianity. His pursuit of a high school education lasted 10 years and took him to several schools in Kansas. In his first attempt to attend college, he was denied admission because of his color.

After a few years of homesteading, George went to school in Iowa, working toward an art degree. At the urging of a concerned teacher, he transferred to Iowa State Agricultural College (now Iowa State at Ames). Here he completed a Master of Arts degree in agriculture. During his last year at Iowa, George accepted an offer from Booker T. Washington to head up the Agriculture Department at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Life at Tuskegee was a challenge, yet fulfilling for Carver. He committed his life to service and once said, "It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobiles one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank that counts. These things mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success." He later added, "I want to be of the greatest good to the greatest number of my people."

His innovative mind created over 300 uses from the peanut and over 100 discoveries for the sweet potato, most designed to help the poor farmer make a decent living. Some of his products, including a successful peanut massage oil for polio patients, had medicinal values. George Washington Carver credited his inventions to Divine inspiration.

Carver's sincerity and genuine concern won him the love of his students. He took a fatherly role with many of the young men on the Tuskegee campus, always helping, giving his time, offering assistance, and providing humanitarian service to the community. His humble attitude toward the world won him recognition in many quarters.

For over 40 years, George Washington Carver dedicated his life to the education of African Americans and poor farmers. He was recognized internationally for his creative work and genuine caring for humanity. He is one of the first Americans to have his likeness on a foreign postage stamp [Ghana, 1964] and the first African American to have a National Park Service site named for him. Several annual events are hosted by the park each year, including: Art and Essay Contest for Fourth Graders (February); March for Parks Earth Day Event (April); Airing of the Quilts Show (June); Carver Day Celebration and Art Show (July); Prairie Day (September).

National Park Service