Zumwalt's Fresh Water Spring
With it comes life and opportunity
| | City of O'Fallon, Missouri: Founded in 1856 | |
Fort Zumwalt Park sits on land that was granted to Jacob Zumwalt and his family by the Spanish government in the late 1700s. The land was suitable for settling, in part, because it had a fresh spring and creek, now known as Belleau Creek, running through it. Zumwalt built his family's home just up the hill from the spring.
Fresh water for the 'settler fort'
Around the time of the War of 1812, local families sheltered at Zumwalt's home to protect themselves from deadly raids by Native Americans. The spring was their source of fresh water. The reconstructed Zumwalt's Fort now stands at the top of the hill.
In 1986, the spring was dammed to create beautiful Lake Whetsel, which sits before you. The 3.5-acre lake was named for Ed Whetsel, an O'Fallon Parks and Recreation Board member and early champion of the lake. Today, the spring is hidden from view beneath the surface but continues to replenish the lake with fresh water.
Erected by the City of O'Fallon, Missouri.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.
Location. 38° 47.685′ N,
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Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor and in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Zumwalt Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Zumwalt Fun Facts (about 700 feet away); Fort Zumwalt (approx. 0.3 miles away); AH1G Cobra Gunship (approx. 0.9 miles away); City of O'Fallon, Missouri Veteran's Memorial Walk
Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 651 times since then and 54 times this year. Last updated on March 27, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 7, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.
