The name "Bloody Island" for the island in the Osage River, visible from the Osage Scenic Bluff Trail in the Painted Rock Conservation Area, originates from folklore rather than confirmed historical events. Local legends tell of a buried Spanish treasure guarded by a Spaniard killed in a deadly conflict with Native Americans, a Civil War payroll hidden on or near the island, and a violent clash between Native American tribes. However, none of these stories are supported by historical or archaeological evidence. The Missouri Department of Conservation acknowledges these accounts as local myths rather than facts. Notably, the early American explorer Zebulon Pike passed this location in 1806. Still, his journals do not mention "Bloody Island," suggesting that the name and its legends likely emerged after his time.

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Elevation 210 m

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Thursday 6 November

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Location: Osage County, Missouri, United States

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