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 at a population of 3,000. The company played a crucial role in supplying lumber during the westward expansion of the United States. Although it abandoned Grandin around 1910 due to resource depletion, many of its historic buildings remain and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, highlighting its importance in Missouri's economic and technological history. Today, visitors can explore the remnants of this once-thriving community and learn about its impact on the timber industry.