The Lohman Building is part of the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.
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38.5781° N92.1711° WBortle 7Chicago

Jefferson Landing State Historic Site Photography Guide

State Park in Cole County, Missouri

  • Bortle 7 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: KOMUnews · CC BY 2.0 · source

Located in Cole County, Missouri, Jefferson Landing State Historic Site is a state park.

Jefferson Landing State Historic Site is a historic district maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources encompassing several state-owned properties in Jefferson City, Missouri, United States. The historic site includes the Christopher Maus House, the Union Hotel, and the Lohman's Landing Building (also known as the Jefferson Landing Building), which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.From the Wikipedia article “Jefferson Landing State Historic Site”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Jefferson City
300 m
Sky darkness
Bortle 7
Suburban / urban transition
Clearest month
September
43% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:56 PM
sunset 6:32 PM

Light at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site

Live
Sunrise
7:23 AM
Sunset
6:25 PM
Golden hour AM
7:07 AM – 8:00 AM
Golden hour PM
5:49 PM – 6:41 PM
Blue hour AM
6:56 AM – 7:07 AM
Blue hour PM
6:41 PM – 6:52 PM
Full darkness
7:53 PM – 5:56 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:35 PM / 1:28 AM
Day length
11h 02m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Jefferson Landing State Historic Site the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:13 AM90° E7:21 PM271° W51°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:45 AM59° ENE8:37 PM302° WNW75°14h 52m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:57 AM89° E7:07 PM271° W52°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:24 AM120° ESE4:52 PM240° WSW28°9h 28m

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:57 AM7:26 AM8:06 AM4:31 PM5:12 PM5:41 PM9h 46m
February6:33 AM7:01 AM7:37 AM5:10 PM5:47 PM6:14 PM10h 46m
March6:54 AM7:21 AM7:56 AM6:41 PM7:16 PM7:42 PM11h 55m
April6:06 AM6:33 AM7:09 AM7:10 PM7:45 PM8:13 PM13h 12m
May5:28 AM5:58 AM6:36 AM7:36 PM8:14 PM8:44 PM14h 16m
June5:13 AM5:45 AM6:24 AM7:56 PM8:35 PM9:07 PM14h 51m
July5:26 AM5:57 AM6:36 AM7:55 PM8:33 PM9:04 PM14h 36m
August5:55 AM6:24 AM7:00 AM7:28 PM8:05 PM8:33 PM13h 41m
September6:24 AM6:51 AM7:26 AM6:44 PM7:19 PM7:45 PM12h 28m
October6:52 AM7:18 AM7:54 AM5:56 PM6:32 PM6:59 PM11h 14m
November6:23 AM6:51 AM7:31 AM4:18 PM4:57 PM5:25 PM10h 05m
December6:50 AM7:20 AM8:02 AM4:08 PM4:49 PM5:19 PM9h 29m

Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:06 AM – 5:26 AM0.312°SE → SE
March4:25 AM – 5:45 AM1.319°SE → SSE
April2:20 AM – 4:50 AM2.522°SE → S
May12:21 AM – 4:01 AM3.723°SE → S
June10:33 PM – 3:43 AM5.223°SE → SSW
July10:26 PM – 2:16 AM3.823°SSE → SW
August9:43 PM – 12:13 AM2.522°S → SW
September8:49 PM – 10:19 PM1.519°SSW → SW
October8:00 PM – 8:20 PM0.313°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-19°—

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.82 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (63%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F7276828993107110112102938172
Low °F-10-70203147544938188-9
Precip. (in)2.22.33.44.74.94.44.24.23.63.72.82.3

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this state park

  • Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
  • Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
  • Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
  • Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
  • Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.

Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Permits, drones & access

Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, closest first.

Ghost Town
Castle Rock12 km away · Osage County
Ghost Town
Cote Sans Dessein16 km away · Callaway County
Ghost Town
Lisletown17 km away · Osage County
Natural Arch
Anvil Rock Arch26 km away · Osage County
Natural Arch
Henley Natural Arch29 km away · Cole County
Natural Arch
Bat Cave Arch30 km away · Miller County
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge34 km away · Osage County
Natural Arch
Rock Bridge35 km away · Boone County
Natural Arch
Arch Cave36 km away · Miller County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Jefferson Landing State Historic Site?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:56 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:32 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:54 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 59° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 240°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Jefferson Landing State Historic Site?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Jefferson Landing State Historic Site from Jefferson City?
About 300 m in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.