Missouri Lumber and Mining Company

The Missouri Lumber and Mining Company (MLM) was a significant timber corporation established in the late 19th century in southeast Missouri, primarily to exploit the region's abundant timber resources. Founded by Pennsylvania lumbermen, MLM built the largest lumber mill in the U.S. in the company town of Grandin, which peaked in population at around 3,000. The company played a crucial role in supporting westward expansion by supplying lumber for construction. Although it abandoned Grandin around 1910 due to resource depletion, many of its buildings remain and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, highlighting its historical and economic importance to Missouri. Today, visitors can explore the remnants of this once-thriving community and learn about its impact on the timber industry and local history.