Weston Bend State Park is an important nature preserve, but not just because of its inherent beauty. The area is historically significant and was once the center of a tobacco and hemp industry that put the city of Weston on the map. Unfortunately, the damage caused by the Civil War, a series of town fires, and the shifting of the Missouri River away from the Weston port caused a decline in the city's fortune. Today, tobacco still plays a vital role in the local economy; when you visit the park, you'll see several old barns and an interpretive display that are symbolic of the area's past.