Mark Twain Lake, August 5, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Mark Twain Lake announces that a $4.482M contract has been awarded to John J. Kirlin Special Projects, LLC of Rockville, Md., for the design and construction of the new M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center.  The new facility will be replacing the old one, which after being opened for 20 years was permanently closed in November 2004 due to accelerated structural deterioration.

Funding for the work has been secured under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stimulate economic and employment activity.  The contractor will be utilizing local resources in the project’s design and construction.

Construction plans include the removal of the old building, which sits on one of the most scenic overlooks at Mark Twain Lake.  The new visitor center will be built at the same location, which is also the site of the Northeast Missouri Vietnam Memorial.

“I’d like to thank our many partners, the Mark Twain Lake Visitor and Educational Resource Center Committee, and those who have worked hard for years to get the Visitor Center reopened,” said Sandra Spence, operations manager at the lake. 

“We’ve seen a real grassroots effort to secure a new visitor’s center for Mark Twain Lake through the writing of letters and e-mails and signing of petitions by many of our neighbors, teachers, community members, visitors and stakeholders,” she added.  “It is a great day for all of us to learn that a new visitor center will soon be a reality and that the local and regional economy will benefit from its construction and continue to benefit from the lake’s operation.”

Design work for the project is underway.  Construction on the new center will follow the demolition of the old building, which will begin this month.  The facility should be complete and open to the public in May 31, 2010. 

Updates on the center’s construction will be available on the Mark Twain Lake webpage at www.mvs.usace.army.mil/marktwain .

If you have questions or comments please contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .