Alley Spring’s cold, clear water churns from a funnel-shaped basin at an average flow of 81 million gallons per day, and its abundance of fresh water has attracted people over time. Archeological evidence suggests native peoples were present around the spring for centuries. Early settlers built a grist mill at the edge of the spring about 1868, and in 1894 a steel roller mill was constructed on the same site and still stands today. Its steel rollers were powered by a turbine rather than a waterwheel, and the turbine can be seen beneath the porch on the east side of the mill. The mill’s presence led to other services, and after a post office was designated in 1884, the area became known as Alley. The community that developed around the mill eventually included a general store, blacksmith shop, and school. Because of early preservation efforts, Alley Spring Mill remains a symbol of heritage. In 1924 Alley Spring became a Missouri state park, and in 1964 the State of Missouri gave it to the National Park Service as part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.