George Washington Carver National Monument

Audio Available:



OVERVIEW: About this Audio-Described Brochure



Welcome to the audio-described version of George Washington Carver National Monument’s official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this 2022 version interprets the two-sided color brochure that visitors receive. The brochure is 4 inches by 8 inches when folded. When the four folds are horizontally extended, it is 16 inches by 8 inches. The brochure explores the life of George Washington Carver and his contributions. It also tells the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit.

This audio version lasts 35 minutes and 47 seconds, and is organized into a cover with three blocks on the front side, and four columns on the back side, to improve the listening experience. Blocks one through three describe the front side of the brochure and columns one through four describe the back side of the brochure.  

Blocks one through three cover the front side of the brochure and include information introducing George Washington Carver - his humble beginnings, his brilliant achievements, his humane philosophy, and his impact on humanity. Included is a collage image featuring a Carver portrait and related objects, four photographs of Carver, an illustration of peanut plants and products, and Carver quotes. 

Columns one through four cover the back side of the brochure which consists of the importance of the site, a description of his childhood life on the farm, four photographs of different areas within the park, a copy of an historical document, two maps: one of directions to the park and one of park grounds, and information on planning a visit to George Washington Carver National Monument.





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OVERVIEW: George Washington Carver National Monument



George Washington Carver National Monument, located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri, is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. Established in 1943, the 240-acre park is the first national park site featuring an African American or any person who is not a President. Each year, approximately 45,000 visitors come to enjoy the unique experiences that only can be found here. You are invited to explore the original Moses Carver farm, the park's historical displays, interactive activities, and natural beauty. Be awed by the achievements of this amazing individual and take a walk through the quiet woods and prairie. For those seeking to learn more about the park during their visit, informative audio guides and tactile maps of the region also can be found at the visitor center. To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the "Accessibility" and "More Information" sections found at the end of this audio-described brochure.



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OVERVIEW: Front Side of Brochure



Side one of the brochure is organized into three vertical blocks, from left to right. 

Block one is the cover which is a collage image featuring a sepia-toned portrait of George Washington Carver. Artifacts representing his life's work overlay the lower portion of the portrait. 

At the top of block two are a pair of side by side, color photographs of George Washington Carver. Text below is an essay describing Carver's philosophy of life.

At the left of block three are two black and white photographs of George Washington Carver, one stacked above the other, with a Carver quote below. 

To the top right of block three is a collage of peanut plants and Carver's peanut-based products. Text below describes Carver's Lifelong Service to Humanity. 




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BLOCK 1: Cover



DESCRIBING: The collage on the front cover of the brochure shows a formal portrait of George Washington Carver and artifacts representing his life's work.


SYNOPSIS: The collage includes a sepia-toned photograph of George Washington Carver, a white pamphlet with black text, a wooden paint palette and paintbrush, a microscope in a wooden case, and a text banner that reads: George Washington Carver, National Park Service; U.S. Department of the Interior; National Monument; Missouri.


IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Dominating the collage is a sepia-toned, upper body formal portrait showing George Washington Carver as a middle-aged man. He is facing front with his body turned slightly to his left wearing a tuxedo shirt, tie, and light-colored vest. He is wearing a dark colored tuxedo jacket and there is a flower in his left lapel.

Covering the lower third of the portrait are color images of artifacts that represent Carver's life's work: agricultural bulletin, paint palette and paintbrush, and microscope and carrying case. 

The top artifact is an agricultural bulletin which reads number 31, June 1925: How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption Seventh edition, January 1940. By G. W. Carver, M. S. in Agr.; Director.

Beneath and in front of the agricultural bulletin is a wooden paint palette with faded paint stains and a cut out thumb hole.  A horse-haired paint brush with a black stem lays below the palette. 

To the left of the paint palette and brush is a medium brown, stained rectangular wooden microscope carrying case with a thin metal handle on top. On the front is a hinged door which is open. Extra microscope lenses are stored on the inside of the door. Inside toward the top of the case is a wooden drawer with a small black metal knob handle. In front of this case sits a golden and bronze colored microscope.

To the far left of the collage is a vertical, gradient black strip about one inch thick that reads bottom to middle top in white bold lettering: George Washington Carver. Toward the top is a full color National Park Service arrowhead and smaller white lettering that reads in 4 lines: National Park Service; U.S. Department of the Interior; National Monument; Missouri.

CAPTION: Carver about age 38, Tuskegee, 1902. Front of the 1925 Agricultural Bulletin 31. Carver’s microscope, palette, and paintbrush.


CREDIT: Portrait - Library of Congress Artifacts – Tuskegee Institute










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BLOCK TWO: IMAGE - Carver in Lab



DESCRIBING: A color photograph shows George Washington Carver in a science laboratory adjusting equipment.

SYNOPSIS:  A rectangular, color photograph shows George Washington Carver working in a science laboratory adjusting equipment, with a bright window in the background and a large, domed glass microscope cover in the foreground.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A rectangular, color photograph shows George Washington Carver, an elderly African American man, with close cropped salt-and-pepper hair and a slight moustache. He is in profile, wearing a light grey suit jacket. A bright red flower is barely visible in his left side lapel. Carver is reaching out to adjust some laboratory equipment. The equipment is a circular, glass object that comes down to a point, connected to a long circular tube. Carver is partly in shadow with a window behind him pouring in bright light. In the foreground is a glass, domed microscope cover with a round knob handle on top. Through the glass is a converse reflection of what is behind it but the details of what is seen is obscured.

CAPTION: Carver about age 77 in his laboratory, which he called “God’s little workshop.”

CREDIT: TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY / P.H. POLK


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BLOCK TWO: IMAGE - Carver and Wooden Lattice



DESCRIBING: A rectangular, color photograph shows George Washington Carver in a white apron standing next to wooden lattice.

SYNOPSIS: A rectangular, color photograph shows George Washington Carver wearing a white apron over a gray suit. He has a bright red and yellow flower on the left lapel of the suitcoat. He is standing next to wooden lattice on his right, looking to his right with a slight smile.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A rectangular, color photograph shows an elderly George Washington Carver, an African American man. He has a wrinkled brow, close cropped salt-and-pepper hair, and moustache. He is wearing a light grey suit jacket, white apron, light colored dress shirt with a dark necktie, and a bright red and yellow flower, leaves, and stem on his left side lapel. He gazes to his right with a slight smile, and he stands next to a brown wooden lattice on his right. The lattice has triangle and diamond pattern with a metal bracket in the upper right-hand corner of it.

CAPTION: Carver about age 77 in his laboratory, which he called "God's little workshop."

CREDIT: TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY / P.H. POLK


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BLOCK TWO: TEXT: Essay



RELATED TEXT: 

George Washington Carver had a timeless message for humanity. Yet he became famous not for his great wisdom, nor for his brilliance as an educator, but for transforming peanuts into products like ink, paper, soap, glue, dyes, massage oil, milk, cosmetics, and more. It is not so much his specific achievements as the humane philosophy behind them that define the man. “It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.”

Carver was motivated by his love for all of creation. For him, every life, a tiny fungus in healthy soil, the ever-present flower on his lapel, a forest bird, a human being of any complexion or nationality was a window on God and a mouthpiece through which the Great Creator spoke. He saw all living things as interrelated. His vision brought forth his teachings: A successful life is one of service through helping others; real education helps us understand life, bringing us the kind of happiness that inspires us to help humanity; true religion is expressed in love and kindness toward all life; science worthy of its name is truth, which sets us free.

Every facet of Carver’s life and his teaching, including his peanut work, can be traced inward to reveal a genius whose source is the deep creative fountain of the inner spirit. Let George Washington Carver National Monument introduce you to this humble man whose love of God and agriculture became a ministry to benefit humanity.


Essays by Peter Duncan Burchard


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BLOCK THREE: IMAGE - Carver Painting



DESCRIBING: A black and white photograph shows George Washington Carver painting.

SYNOPSIS: Black and white photograph shows George Washington Carver holding an artist's palette and paintbrush painting flowers on a canvas.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A vertical black and white historic photograph shows an elderly George Washington Carver, an African American man with close cropped salt-and-pepper hair. He is wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt rolled up to his elbows, a dark colored necktie, and a dark thick ribbon that is around his collar and extends to his waist. His trousers are black and he wears a white apron at his waist. He stands in left profile facing the easel. In his upward facing left hand, he cradles a painter’s palette and in his right hand extended at chest level, he holds a dark, thin paint brush between his thumb and forefinger. He is using the brush to paint in oil a collection of mixed varieties of flowers on a canvas sitting on an easel. The vertical, rectangular canvas appears to be about three feet tall. Behind Carver is a white background and dark colored frames.

CAPTION: Carver loved art and enjoyed painting. One of his paintings received honorable mention at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

CREDIT: Tuskegee University / P.H. Polk



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BLOCK THREE: IMAGE - Carver Teaching



DESCRIBING: Black and white historic photograph shows George Washington Carver teaching adults in a classroom.

SYNOPSIS: A black and white photograph shows George Washington Carver teaching a man and three women in a brightly lit classroom. Carver is standing at a table covered with plants and other teaching materials. A blackboard is visible on the wall.  

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A vertical black and white historic photo shows George Washington Carver, standing at the front of a classroom, facing the classroom. 

An African American man with close cropped hair, facing away with most of his back to the viewer. He wears a light-colored jacket that extends below his waist with dark colored trousers. His bow tie and white shirt are barely visible. He is holding something in front of him in his left hand. He stands behind a wooden table with objects including plants, vegetables, and other teaching materials. Four, dark-skinned people seated at desks are facing Carver, listening intently. On the left is a man in a dark jacket and white shirt and close-cropped dark hair. To the right of the man are three women in white blouses with their hair up. Behind them is a chalk board with obscured, cursive writing on it. On the left side of the chalk board is a wood paneled door and a white paneled door on the right. The photo is slightly out of focus.

CAPTION: Carver teaching at Tuskegee Institute.

CREDIT: Tuskegee University Archives and Museum


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BLOCK THREE: QUOTE



QUOTE:

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."

George Washington Carver


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BLOCK THREE: IMAGES - Peanut Collage



DESCRIBING: This image shows a collage of an uprooted peanut plant, George Washington Carver's Carvoline products, and peanut pods lying nearby.

SYNOPSIS: This collage shows a cluster of peanut plants including foliage, roots, and peanut pods.  In front of the peanut plant, there are two containers of Carver's peanut products, including a bottle of Carvoline rubbing oil with a green label and a black lid, and a cylindrical jar of Carvoline Antiseptic Hair Dressing with a yellow, black, and green label and a red lid. There are four peanut pods lying nearby.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The dominate image is an uprooted peanut plant with green leaves and stems in a large cluster with roots and peanut pods. To the right below the roots is a tall rectangular bottle with a black cap and a green label with gold writing that reads “Carvoline Rubbing Oil”. The rest of the words on the label are indecipherable except those near the bottom which read, “Carvoline Co.” Next to the bottle to its left is a cylindrical container with a round red lid and green and yellow label that reads “Carvoline Antiseptic Hair Dressing” and a sketch of a man's face in profile facing left. Lying near the peanut plant, cylindrical jar, and rectangular bottle are three pale yellow peanut pods in a line and a fourth peanut pod below and right of the Carvoline jar.

CAPTION: Peanut plants have an unusual growth cycle. Flowers appear above ground among the leaves. As the blooms mature, pegs (stems) form and grow down into the soil, where peanut pods develop. Carver discovered over 300 uses for peanuts. In the 1930s he treated polio patients with massage therapy and peanut rubbing oil.

CREDIT: All PHOTOS - NPS UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED


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BLOCK THREE: TEXT - Lifelong Service to Humanity



George Washington Carver mastered chemistry, botany, mycology (study of fungi), music, herbalism, art, cooking, and massage. But his life began enslaved about 1864 in Diamond Grove, Missouri. Young George longed for an education to help him understand nature's mysteries, but schooling was denied him.  At about age 11 he left home to seek answers on his own. His quest led him through poverty, prejudice, violence, and injustice.

Eventually finding himself rejected from college due to his race, he tried his hand at homesteading in Kansas. Finally, in 1890 he was accepted as an art major at Simpson College in Iowa, where he was the only African American.  Within a year, his desire of preparing to serve his people forced a painful decision to leave art.  Carver transferred to Iowa State Agricultural College (today's Iowa State University) to pursue agriculture.  "The more my ideas develop, the more beautiful and grand seems the plan I have laid out to pursue, or rather the one God has destined for me. It is really all I see in a successful life."

He earned a Bachelor of Agriculture degree in 1894 and a Masters of Agriculture degree in 1896. That year Carver accepted an offer from Booker T. Washington to head the new Agriculture Department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.  The post answered Carver's dream "to be the greatest good to the greatest number of my people." At that renowned school for African Americans, Carver became a beacon to students who were inspired by his ability to overcome so many obstacles.

His peanut work, beginning about 1903, was aimed at freeing African American farmers and the South from the tyranny of “King Cotton.”  With innovative farming methods, he convinced Southern farmers to grow soil-enriching crops like soybeans, and peanuts, in addition to cotton.  At the heart of his vision for an economically rejuvenated South was his teaching that nature produced no waste. Embracing a message of hope “to help the man farthest down,”  Carver produced a series of free agricultural bulletins (see number 31, far left) that provided information on crops, cultivation techniques, and recipes for nutritious meals.  Several of the 43 bulletins were distributed throughout the world.

Carver came to public attention in 1921 with his captivating testimony before a U.S. House of Representatives committee debating a peanut tariff bill.  Two years later he converted young Southern Whites at a YMCA retreat into near disciples.  They arranged for him to speak at colleges where no Africain American had been welcome.  Carver became a symbol of interracial cooperation.  His work and encyclopedic knowledge of plant properties impressed Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, who sought information from him on industrial uses of plants, including peanuts, and soybeans.

Carver died at Tuskegee on January 5, 1943.  That July, Congress designated George Washington Carver National Monument, the first park to honor an African American scientist, educator, and humanitarian.


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OVERVIEW: Back Side of Brochure



The backside or side two of the brochure is organized into four vertical columns. To the left is a half inch wide, vertical black band. 

A photograph of the Boy Carver statue fills the first column. A Carver quote overlays the bottom of the photo. 

At the top of column two is a photograph of Williams Pond. Text below describes how Carver's life journey began at this place. At the bottom of the column is a photograph of a copy of the bill of sale for Carver's mother. 

At the top left of column three is a photograph of the 1881 Moses Carver House. At the bottom of the column is a photograph of the science lab in the visitor center. Between the two photos is text with plan your visit, safety, and accessibility information.

In column four are two maps: one showing area directions to the park and one giving directions within the park, and information about the park and the National Park Foundation.



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COLUMN ONE: IMAGE - The Boy Carver statue



DESCRIBING: A large three by five-inch color photograph shows the iconic Boy Carver statue on the Carver Trail.

SYNOPSIS: The Boy Carver statue on the park trail is featured in this image. It is a bronze depiction of George Washington Carver as a barefooted boy holding a plant, sitting on a boulder, with the woodlands and a footbridge spanning a creek in the background. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A life-sized, bronze sculpture of a slender, African American boy, young George Washington Carver, seated on a large boulder, is the focal point of the image. The sculpture is placed outdoors near woodlands and a walking trail. The boy is depicted wearing pants reaching a few inches above his ankles, without a shirt or shoes. Carver's left leg is bent slightly and his left foot rests on the boulder. His right foot is tucked under the left knee, with just the toes and top of his right foot visible. Young Carver is holding a plant in his left hand, with his right hand resting on his right knee, as he looks upward and slightly to the right. A metal and wooden pedestrian bridge in the lower right spans a narrow creek. 

The statue is surrounded by thin trees with small and light green leaves, allowing bright, filtered light to flood the scene, giving the appearance of early spring. Dark green plants grow at the base of the trees leading up to the creek, and a small portion of a concrete walking path is shown on the lower left of the photograph. 

CAPTION:  The Boy Carver statue, sculpted by Robert Amendola in 1960, rests in a natural area much like the one George loved to explore.

CREDIT: NPS




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COLUMN ONE: TEXT - Carver Quote



QUOTE: "As a very small boy exploring the almost virgin woods of the old Carver place I had the impression someone had just been there ahead of me. … I was practically overwhelmed with the sense of some Great Presence. … I knew even then it was the Great Spirit of the universe. … Never since have I been without this consciousness of the Creator speaking to me through flowers, rocks, animals, plants and all other aspects of His creations."

-George Washington Carver


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COLUMN TWO: IMAGE - Williams Pond



DESCRIBING,: A wooden bench near Williams Pond is surrounded by green grass and trees along the Carver Trail. 

SYNOPSIS,: A small, rectangular scene shows a wooden bench near the Williams Pond. The bright, green trees on the opposite side of the pond and the deep blue sky are reflected in the calm water.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION,: A horizontal photograph shows Williams Pond surrounded by green grass and trees just beginning to leaf out. The trees are reflected on the surface of the water. In the foreground to the right, is a brown, three-slat, wooden bench facing the pond. The sky is light blue with wispy, white clouds.

CAPTION: Williams Pond is named for Sarah Jane Williams, Moses Carver’s niece, whose family lived on the farm. Take time to read the meditative plaques.

CREDIT: Cliff Keeler


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COLUMN TWO: TEXT - It All Started Here



RELATED TEXT:

During the Civil War guerrilla warfare intensified along the Missouri-Kansas border. Born enslaved on the Moses and Susan Carver farm about 1864, George Washington Carver was caught up in the turmoil. When George was an infant, outlaws kidnapped him and his mother Mary. George was found in Arkansas and returned to the Carvers, orphaned and nearly dead from whooping cough. His mother was never found. He never knew the identity of his father, although George believed he was enslaved on a nearby farm. George’s frail health freed him from many daily chores, giving him time to explore: (quote), “Day after day I spent in the woods alone in order to collect my floral beauties and put them in my little garden I had hidden in brush." (end quote). The flowers thrived under his care, and George acquired the nickname “The Plant Doctor” in his community. George left the farm about 1876. He never again lived with the Carvers, but many of his values were shaped during his years on the farm. His life work was rooted in his ability to retain the child’s wonder of nature.


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COLUMN TWO: IMAGE - Bill of Sale



DESCRIBING: An image shows a handwritten bill of sale on cream colored paper for George Washington Carver's mother, Mary. 

SYNOPSIS: This historic, handwritten document, in cursive script, shows the bill of sale for a 13-year-old enslaved girl named Mary. (George Washington Carver's mother).

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:  At the bottom of the column is a document written in cursive writing with heavy ink. The impression of a seal follows the name of Wm. P. McGinnis. The document reads:

Received of Moses Carver Seven Hundred Dollars in full consideration for a Negro girl named Mary age about thirteen years who I warrant to be sound in body and mind and a slave for life. Given under my hand and seal this 9th day of October A.D. 1855 

Wm. P. McGinnis

Notary Jn. Dade Jr. 


CAPTION: Bill of sale $700 for 13-year-old Mary (George Carver’s mother), 1855.

CREDIT: Tuskegee University / P.H. Polk






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COLUMN THREE: IMAGE - 1881 Moses Carver House



DESCRIBING: The white, two-story 1881 Moses Carver farmhouse sits on a green lawn near woodlands.

SYNOPSIS: The white, two story 1881 Moses Carver farmhouse sits on a fenced, green lawn. The house has a front porch with two windows, and six, wooden posts supporting a steeply sloped, gray roof. The left side of the house features two upstairs windows and two downstairs windows. Also in the image are trees and a wooden structure.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:  This square photograph shows the front and left side profile of the 1881 Moses Carver house on a bright sunny day. The front porch has six white, wooden posts that support the sloping roof. In the shadows of the porch there are two windows on the front wall of the house, with a door centered between them. Below each window is a wooden bench. On the left side of the white, two-story frame house is a chimney at the peak of the roof and four windows below, two upstairs and two downstairs. The house sits in a cleared area and there are woodlands stretching across the background. In the foreground, a large tree with new leaves stands near a segment of split-rail fencing.  Near the fence, there is a triangular, wooden structure, about three feet wide by four feet tall. The grass is beginning to green.

CAPTION: The Carvers built this house in 1881. George did not live here, but he visited occasionally.

CREDIT: Cliff Keeler


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COLUMN THREE: TEXT Planning Your Visit - Visitor Center



Related Text: 

Come here for information, a museum, interactive exhibits about history and science, classrooms for programs on George Washington Carver’s life, a film, a observation deck, and a park store. Open daily, except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1.



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COLUMN THREE: TEXT Planning Your Visit - Carver Trail



Related-text:

This one mile, self- guiding loop leads you into woodlands, across streams, and along a tallgrass prairie restoration area. Visit the Boy Carver statue, the Moses Carver house, and the graves of Moses and Susan Carver. (George Washington Carver is buried at Tuskegee University in Alabama.)



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COLUMN THREE: TEXT Planning Your Visit - Accessibility



The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible. Ask about accessibility on the Carver Trail. Service animals are allowed.


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COLUMN THREE: TEXT Planning Your Visit - Safety Tips



Stay on established trails – Watch your footing around the streams and pond. Do not drink the water. Swimming, wading, or fishing are not allowed. – Be alert for poison ivy, ticks, and stinging insects. – Do not climb on fences or cemetery headstones. – Pets must be leashed and attended. – For firearms regulations check the park website. – Do not damage or remove plants, wildlife, or historical features; all are protected by federal law. Emergencies call 9 1 1.


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COLUMN THREE: IMAGE - Science Laboratory



DESCRIBING,: A horizontal photograph shows a clean, sunlit science laboratory.

SYNOPSIS,: The horizontal photograph shows a spacious room filled with five, black-topped lab tables with wooden cabinet bases, each having a sink and faucet. The floor is a checkered pattern, the back wall has exhibits and the side wall has tall windows.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION,:

This photograph is of the science laboratory, located inside the visitor center. It includes five lab tables. Four horizontal tables are seen on the left-hand side of the picture next to a wall of windows.  The tall, wood-framed, sash windows feature grills dividing each sash into eight rectangular sections. The windows allow natural light to fill the space. One lab table features a lower countertop than the others. Each lab table has a sink on either end, black countertop material, an upper shelf, and potted plants. The tables are made of light, stained wood and have space for the black wooden bar stools to be placed underneath. At the top of the photo and just behind the lab tables on the left, are two additional lightly stained wood-framed windows on the back wall. To the right of the windows are exhibits about George Washington Carver with a large image of his face. There is white space on the wall to the right before a lightly stained wooden door. The last laboratory table sits vertical in the far-right hand side of the photo. The flooring is a checkered pattern in blue and orange hues.

CAPTION: You can learn about Carver’s work in the visitor center’s lab.

CREDIT: NPS



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COLUMN FOUR: MAP - Area Map



DESCRIBING: This navigational map shows George Washington Carver National Monument in relation to area roadways, towns, and states. 

SYNOPSIS: This map, oriented with north at the top, shows the routes leading to the park. George Washington Carver National Monument is located west of Diamond, Missouri and is close to the towns of Carthage, Joplin, and Neosho. Major highways include I-44 and I-49.


IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:  This map shows the southwest Missouri region adjacent to Oklahoma and Kansas where George Washington Carver National Monument is located. The park is indicated with a green square and arrow on Carver Road, just off of Missouri Route V. The park is surrounded by Interstate 44 to the north, Interstate 49 to the west, Highway 60 to the south, and Highway 59 to the east. The town of Diamond is east of the park on Highway 59. The town of Neosho is located south of the park near the intersection of highways 59 and 60. The town of Carthage is north of the park on Highway 49. The largest urban area is Joplin, located northwest of the park on I-44. The scale is in the upper, left corner. 


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COLUMN FOUR: MAP - Park Map



DESCRIBING,: This orientation map of George Washington Carver National Monument shows points of interest including roads, park parking, trails, water features, picnic area, and visitor center. 


SYNOPSIS,: This is a map of the 240-acre rectangular park property, with north situated at the top. The legend is on the lower left. The park is accessed from Carver Road on the east, shown on the right side of the map. Just inside the main entrance, a short road splits to the right from the park entrance road leading to a picnic area and parking. The park entrance road is a loop that leads to two parking areas near the visitor center. The visitor center includes information, interactive museum exhibits, a theater with a 28-minute film, gift shop, restrooms, and observation deck. The Carver Trail is a looping three fourths mile long walking trail leading from the visitor center through woodlands and prairie to the beginning with the Birthplace Site, the Carver Spring (an optional link), Boy Carver Statue, Williams Pond, 1881 Moses Carver House, Walnut Fence Row, Carver Cemetery, and Carver Bust. The Contemplative Loop encircles the Williams Pond and connects to the Carver Trail. The Picnic Area loop trail connects to the Carver Trail and leads to the visitor center and the overlook view of the Boy Carver Statue. The visitor center and trail are accessible.


IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION,: This map shows the location of the entrance road, parking areas, visitor center, and trail with points of interest. Park roads and parking areas are solid white. The walking trails are represented by dashed lines. The Carver Branch, the Williams Branch, and the Williams Pond are blue. The entire center portion of the map is green, indicating woodlands. The northern and southern sections of the park map are light in color, indicating prairie restoration areas. The map is bordered to the east by Carver Road running north and south. At the approximate midpoint of Carver Road, the park road connects and leads to the visitor center, making a horseshoe shaped parking area, including bus parking. A road branching to the north off the main park road leads to a picnic area and parking. Prairie restoration areas include a note in red text: Please leave prairie in its natural state. Do not pick wildflowers. A maintenance building is located near the visitor center. 

At the bottom right corner, the map says: To Neosho is 10 miles away.

At the top right corner, the map says: To Diamond is 2.6 mi away.





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COLUMN FOUR: TEXT - More Information



George Washington Carver National Monument is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America’s communities, visit www.nps.gov. Contact the park directly at: 

ADDRESS: 5646 Carver Rd., Diamond, MO 64840

PHONE NUMBER: 417-325-4151

WEBSITE: www.nps.gov/gwca

Use the NPS App to guide your visit.

National Park Foundation

Join the park community.
www.nationalparks.org


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