Years after catastrophe forced an entire town to evacuate, the area has been cleaned up and rebuilt as Route 66 State Park. For St. Louis County residents, it’s a popular place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with nature.
Route 66 State Park
On this date in Missouri history, the Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy all of Times Beach and evacuate the town. After concluding that all the land in the town was contaminated with dioxin, government agencies spent nearly $40 million to buy out the 800 properties.
