During WWII The U.S. Government acquired nearly 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) in the area to build a munitions plant.

[1][3] All of the land except the munitions plant was given to the University of Missouri in 1948 for use as an agricultural experiment station.

The area has numerous limestone cliffs overlooking the Missouri River.

The floods of 1993 and 1995 deposited sand on almost 1,000 acres (400 ha) of agricultural fields, which now provides valuable wildlife habitat.

There are several small lakes and streams as well as the Missouri river that provide fishing opportunities in the conservation area.