A GUIDE TO HISTORIC ARKANSAS TRAILS BUTTERFIELD TRAIL CIVIL WAR TRAILS SOUTHWEST TRAIL TRAIL OF TEARS Front cover, clockwise: Trail of Tears at Village Creek State Park, Southwest Trail in Lonoke County, Pea Ridge battle re-enactment Above: Southwest Trail near Benton For complete details, please visit Arkansas.com/heritagetrails For complete details, please visit Arkansas.com/heritagetrails Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Arkansas.com [email protected] 501-682-7777 Department of Arkansas Pea Ridge battle re-enactment Heritage Arkansasheritage.com attractions of interest along [email protected] the way. Rugged adventures, 501-324-9150 interesting characters and unique places are all here; however, not Arkansas Highway and everything of intrigue could be Transportation Department included in these pages. Arkansashighways.com [email protected] For more information, visit 501-569-2000 Arkansas.com/heritagetrails, Pea Ridge Battlefield where you’ll find interactive maps For general travel information, and much more to see and do on visit Arkansas.com or call each excursion. While traveling, 1-800-NATURAL to request a free be sure to look for the new Heri- Arkansas Vacation Planning Kit, tage Trail emblem on highway which includes an Arkansas Tour signage across the state. To learn Guide, State Parks Guide, Adven- more about Arkansas history and ture Guide, State Highway Map Trail of Tears at Village Creek State Park Courtesy of Village Creek State Park heritage, contact the agencies that and Calendar of Events. produced this guide: ARKANSAS HERITAGE TRAILS From the Arkansas Delta to the The Heritage Trails document Ozark Mountains and in every land and water routes along the geographic region in between, Trail of Tears, a mail route pre- Arkansas’s history and heritage is dating the Pony Express and Civil deeply rooted in its landscape. A War actions that determined the trip across the state can lead from fate of a nation divided. Mississippi River bottomlands to mid-America’s highest peaks In this brochure, you’ll find or from a legacy of Deep South maps illustrating each trail cotton culture to a town on the (pp. 12-13), a brief description edge of the Wild West frontier. of its historical significance and Courtesy of the Arkansas Southwest Trail Research Group Southwest Trail in Independence County 1 1 For complete details, please visit Arkansas.com/heritagetrails Numbers correspond with maps on pages 12 and 13. PLACES IN THE AREA 1 Maynard Pioneer Museum & Park – Housed in a century-old log cabin; depicts rural life in the late 1800s. Features a park with three pavilions, barbecue pits, playground and RV hook-ups. Ark. 328 W., Maynard. 870-647-2701. Seerandolphcounty.com. year-round. Features 60 cabins, a conference center, restaurant, 2 Jacksonport State Park – theater, general store, gift shops Features an 1872 courthouse with and herb garden on-site. exhibits on local history and tours Off Ark. 5, 9 and 14 near of the Mary Woods No. 2 river- Mountain View. 870-269-3851. boat, the White River’s last Ozarkfolkcenter.com. working paddlewheel boat. At press time, the Mary Woods No. 5 Thomas Tunstall Family 2 was being restored and closed Graves – Monuments located Cadron Blockhouse near Conway to the public. Please call ahead at the north end of the Pleasant for tour information. Ark. 69 Hill Cemetery near Sulphur Rock The Southwest Trail spans from St. Louis, Missouri, to Maynard, north of Newport. 870-523-2143. mark the graves of the Arkansas Arkansas, and then meanders across the state to Texarkana Arkansasstateparks.com. pioneer and his family. and into the Red River Valley of Texas. SEE MAP ON PAGE 12 3 Old Independence 6 Historic Washington State Regional Museum – View Park – A 19th-century restora- ITS PLACE IN HISTORY In 1838, the uppermost portion exhibits on Native Americans, tion village preserving Arkansas’s of the Southwest Trail, known Civil War history, railroad and Confederate capital from 1863-65 What had been little more than a as the Benge Route, was used automotive industries and and the state’s largest collection footpath before Arkansas became to move Cherokee Indians into more. 380 S. 9th St., Batesville. of antebellum homes open to the a territory became a major Indian Territory (modern day 870-793-2121. Oirm.org. public. Interpretive programs and emigration route in the 1820s. In Oklahoma) as part of the long, tours offered daily. Restaurant, 1831, the Southwest Trail became grueling Trail of Tears. Captain 4 Ozark Folk Center – Living re-created blacksmith shop, the first federally sponsored road John Benge led the Cherokee into museum state park preserves weapons and printing museums, in the state. More than four-fifths Randolph County near Maynard traditional pioneer skills, such and horse-drawn surrey rides are of Arkansas’s population used to Smithville, through Batesville as quilting, blacksmithing, also on-site. U.S. 278, Washing- that route to enter the territory. to Fayetteville, where they joined pottery, weaving and other ton. 870-983-2684. Historic the main Northern Route. cabin crafts. Workshops offered washingtonstatepark.com. 2 3 For complete details, please visit Arkansas.com/heritagetrails The Prairie Grove Campaign follows the routes of Union and Confederate soldiers during the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862. SEE MAP ON PAGE 12 ITS PLACE IN HISTORY field, Missouri. General Francis Herron’s Union troops made While the Battle of Prairie Grove the 110-mile trek to Fayetteville resulted in a tactical draw, it in three days, then headed west essentially secured Northwest where they encountered Hind- Arkansas for the Union. man’s army on high ground at Prairie Grove on December 7. On December 3, 1862, Confeder- Herron and Hindman engaged Arkansas Air Museum ate General Thomas Hindman in a seesaw battle. Union troops entered the Boston Mountains were on the verge of defeat when intent on crippling the Union Blunt pounced on Rebel forces. PLACES IN THE AREA racing planes of the 20s and 30s forces under General James G. Low on ammunition and having to Vietnam-era Army helicopters 7 Blunt at Cane Hill. Learning of suffered significant casualties, Prairie Grove Battlefield and a Navy carrier fighter. The Hindman’s advance, Blunt sent Hindman retreated south. State Park – One of America’s hangar where the planes are for reinforcements from Spring- most intact Civil War battlefields. housed is a former headquarters Walk the one-mile Battlefield for aviator training in the 40s Trail or take the five-mile driving and is one of the few remaining tour. Arkansas’s largest battle WWII-era aircraft hangars. re-enactment takes place here U.S. 71 S. at Drake Field next biennially in even-numbered to the Ozark Military Museum, years the first weekend in Fayetteville. 479-521-4947. December. U.S. 62, Prairie Arkairmuseum.org. Grove. 479-846-2990. Arkansasstateparks.com. 9 Ozark Military Museum – Military aircraft, vehicles and 8 Arkansas Air Museum – memorabilia. U.S. 71 S. at Drake Showcases Arkansas’s aviation Field next to Arkansas Air Mu- history through numerous seum, Fayetteville. 479-587-1941. displays of original artifacts and Ozarkmilitarymuseum.org. memorabilia from world-famous Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park 4 5 For complete details, please visit Arkansas.com/heritagetrails commanders were killed and one biking and horse trails on 4,300 captured, and the Rebel attack acres. 15930 U.S. 62, 10 miles at Elkhorn was blunted. Curtis north of Rogers. 479-451-8122. wheeled his army around and Nps.gov/peri. drove Van Dorn from the field on March 7, ending any hopes of the Confederates invading Missouri. PLACES IN THE AREA 11 Shiloh Museum of Ozark History – Nestled in a two-acre, park-like setting, the museum offers exhibits, programs, special Pea Ridge National Military Park events and a research library on 10 Pea Ridge National the Arkansas Ozarks. Includes Military Park – One of the best seven historic buildings, a Pea Ridge battle reenactment preserved Civil War battlefields store and picnic tables. Free in the country. Offers a seven- admission. 118 W. Johnson mile, self-guided driving tour, Ave., Springdale. 479-750-8165. The Pea Ridge Campaign retraces the movements by Union 30-minute film, museum and Springdaleark.org/shiloh. and Confederate forces during one of the largest and most bookstore. Features hiking, pivotal battles fought west of the Mississippi, the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862. SEE MAP ON PAGE 12 ITS PLACE IN HISTORY eral Franz Sigel at Bentonville, but Sigel fought free and joined On March 4, 1862, Confederate Curtis. Van Dorn’s army, badly General Earl Van Dorn led his strung out along the advance Army of the West north from route, ended up splitting, half the Boston Mountains intent on hitting Curtis at Leetown, while crushing Union General Samuel the rest circled Big Mountain Curtis’ Army of the Southwest at to attack from the Springfield Pea Ridge, then invading Mis- to Fayetteville Road at Elkhorn souri. His cavalry nearly captured Tavern on March 6. The Lee- a Union contingent under Gen- town fight ended after two Rebel Pea Ridge battle reenactment 6 7 For complete details, please visit Arkansas.com/heritagetrails PLACES IN THE AREA Federal troops entering Little Rock, 1863 12 Chalk Bluff Battlefield Park – The site of several skir- mishes during the Civil War. Interpretive plaques along a walk- ing trail detail the battle. Two miles north of U.S. 62 to Ark. 341, St. Francis. 870-598-2667. Civilwarbuff.org/st_francis.html. 16 Courtesy of the Arkansas History Commission MacArthur Museum of 13 Crowley’s Ridge State Military History – Located Park – Cabins, campgrounds, in the historic tower of the lakes, pavilions and trails. Old Arsenal, a National Ark.