The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for education to becoming a renowned agricultural ...
When Moses and Susan Carver moved to southwest Missouri, they built a small 14 x 14 cabin. Eventually that same cabin was inhabited by an enslaved young woman named Mary, who was purchased by Moses Carver in 1855 and gave birth to George Washington Carver towards the end of the Civil War. Today visitors can see the approximate area where the cabin once stood with a wooden frame outline. .
The cabin outline is located on a flat grassy knoll above a spring. A wooden structure has been placed on the purported site to mark George Washington Carver’s birthplace. Although accuracy of his site has since been called into question, it continues to be interpreted using a 2-1/2-foot high wooden frame outline of the footprint of the cabin. The structure contains an opening at a suggested doorway that allows visitors to stand inside the exhibit. The cabin outline is interpreted with a wayside exhibit.
A bust of George Washington Carver stands in a small plaza at the end of the Carver trail. The cast concrete bust was created by Audrey Corwin in 1952 and presented to the park at its dedication in 1953 by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute. An audio box inset into the base plays a recording of George Washington Carver reciting Edgar A. Guest poem, “Equipment,” at a 1942 commencement address at Selma University.
A bust of George Washington Carver stands in a small plaza at the end of the Carver trail. The 2 foot 9-inch-high cast concrete bust coated with a waterproof sealer, was created by Audrey Corwin in 1952 and presented to the park at its dedication in 1953 by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute. The bust sits on a cut stone cap over a concrete block base with a limestone veneer. The stone cap is engraved with George Washington Carver’s name. An audio box inset into the base plays a recording of George Washington Carver reciting Edgar A. Guest poem, “Equipment,” at a 1942 commencement address at Selma University. “Equipment” Poem by Edgar A. Guest Figure it out for yourself, my lad, You’ve all that the greatest of men have had, Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes And a brain to use if you would be wise. With this equipment they all began, So start for the top and say, “I can.” Look them over, the wise and great, They take their food from a common plate, And similar knives and forks they use, With similar laces they tie their shoes. The world considers them brave and smart, But you’ve all they had when they made their start. You can triumph and come to skill, You can be great if you only will. You’re well equipped for what fight you choose, You have legs and arms and a brain to use, And the man who has risen great deeds to do Began his life with no more than you. You are the handicap you must face, You are the one who must choose your place, You must say where you want to go, How much you will study the truth to know. God has equipped you for life, but He Lets you decide what you want to be. Courage must come from the soul within, The man must furnish the will to win. So figure it out for yourself, my lad. You were born with all that the great have had, With your equipment they all began, Get hold of yourself and say, “I can.”
At George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, Missouri, park rangers and naturalists present programs developed around Carver’s struggles, achievements, and enduring legacy in a beautiful park setting.
Robert Amendola sculpted this tribute to young George Washington Carver in 1961 and entitled it “Boy Carver Statue.” The statue depicts George tenderly cradling a plant in his left hand, illustrating his love and respect for nature. It shows why, as a young child, he was called “The Plant Doctor.”
The "Boy Carver Statue" was cast by sculptor Robert Amendola and acquired by the park from the artist in 1962. The 4-foot tall bronze statue portrays George Washington Carver as a young child. It is set atop a 5 foots tall, 6-ton limestone boulder chosen by the artist. The statue depicts a barefoot and shirtless George Washington Carver, “the plant doctor,” sitting in his wild garden, plant in hand and looking toward the sky. It is situated on a circular plaza edged by a stone wall near Carver Branch.
The visitor center is a multilevel facility that houses a museum, theater, park store, interactive exhibits areas, classrooms, additional restrooms, library, museum collection facility, offices space, and a large multipurpose area that also serves as a tornado shelter. It is open daily, 9am to 5pm, except Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.
Take your furry friend for a walk along the one-mile picturesque Carver Trail through woodlands, across streams, and along tallgrass prairie. Stroll along the boardwalk past the bronze on young George Washington Carver holding a plant, Moses Carver house and pause at Moses Carver Family Cemetery.
A Contemplative Experience
Take in George Washington Carver’s words of wisdom while stopping to read the quote stones along the short, quarter mile Contemplative Loop Trail. Discover a sense of peace as GW Carver guides you through the woods.
Report for Duty at the Park
Become a Junior Ranger by completing activities about George Washington Carver’s life and impact on our nation with the “The Plant Doctor” or “The Scientist” or “Carver Scholar” booklet. To begin your learning journey, pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the visitor center.
The Legacy of George Washington Carver
Explore the impactful life of Carver at the museum and discovery area. Tour exhibits of his art, examine artifacts from his scientific work, and watch the park film, “Struggle and Triumph: The Legacy of George Washington Carver”. Learn about Carver’s contribution to science, education, agriculture, and more!
Pack a Picnic
All picnic tables are accessible and located along concrete routes. Some of these picnic tables are shaded. There are accessible parking spots near the picnic area.
Explore the Park Museum and Discovery Area
Located in the visitor center, the museum and discovery area offer visitors three floors of exhibits on George Washington Carver's life and times at a self-guided pace.
Start at the Visitor Center
Many visitors like to start their park experience at the visitor center. Orientation services and basic visitor information are available at the information desk. This is the location of the passport cancellation stamp. Stop by the park store and browse the products. The visitor center is open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Embrace your creativity at the Park
Find a special place in nature and pull out your pen and pencil. Connect with George Washington Carver in a new way through nature journaling, sketching or poetry writing. Use your senses to inspire your creativity If you are looking for more inspiration, visit the museum to view Carver’s poetry and art.
Capture a Moment
Bring your camera or cell phone into the woods, along the streams, or through the prairie to photograph a moment in nature. Pause and observe while you enjoy beautiful feelings of solitude while connecting to the environment around you. Visit the Nature Page at George Washington Carver National Monument
Tour the Carver Trail
Join a Park Ranger on a guided tour along the Carver Trail. As you walk in the steps of young Carver, you will leave with a greater understanding of his history, the place he grew up, and the legacy he left behind. Tours are offered twice a day on the Carver Trail.
Explore with Young Carver
Take a self-guided tour and search for wildlife in the woodlands that inspired by the adventurous young Carver. Maybe you will catch sight of a blue heron in the pond, hear songbirds in the prairies or witness deer visiting the monument grounds in the morning. No day is the same and it brings plentiful opportunities for discovery to all.
Watch the Park Film about George Washington Carver
"Struggle and Triumph: The Legacy of George Washington Carver" was produced in 2014. This inspiration 28- minutes film details some of the struggles and triumphs of George Washington Carver's life journey, showing how he became a role model for perseverance and achievement. The film is shown every 45 minutes starting at 9:15 a.m. and last showing is 4:00 p.m.
Take a Guided Tour on the Carver Trail
Guided tours of the Carver Trail are offered daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the year. The ranger-led guided tour of the Carver Trail interprets the childhood and life of George Washington Carver.
