Arkansas Post National Memorial
Arkansas Post National Memorial
In 1686, Henri de Tonti established a trading post known as "Poste de Arkansea" at the Quapaw village of Osotouy. It was the first semi-permanent French settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley. The establishment of the Post was the first step in a long struggle between France, Spain, and England over the interior of the North American continent. Over the years, the Post relocated as necessary due to flooding from the Arkansas River, but its position always served of strategic importance for the French, Spanish, American, and Confederate military. Spanish soldiers and British partisans clashed here in the 1783 "Colbert Raid," the only Revolutionary War action in Arkansas. Arkansas Post became part of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. By 1819, the post was a thriving river port and the largest city in the region and selected as the first capital of the Arkansas Territory. During the Civil War, Confederate troops tried to maintain tactical control of the confluence of the two rivers, and in 1862 they constructed a massive earthen fortification known as Fort Hindman at the Post. In January 1863 Union troops destroyed the fort, ensuring control of the Arkansas River. Today, the memorial and museum commemorate the multi-layered and complex history of the site. Located on a peninsula bordered by the Arkansas River and two backwaters, the site offers excellent fishing and wildlife watching opportunities.IN DEPTH
Sights to See Nearby Attractions Nearby Attractions National Park Service Areas Hot Springs National Park 120 miles Central High School National Historic Site 100 miles Vicksburg National Military Park 140 miles Buffalo National River 229 miles Shiloh National Military Park 260 miles Fort Smith National...read more
History Stories 1541 - Hernando de Soto in Arkansas Two hundred years before Lewis and Clark, over sixty years before Jamestown and Plymoth Rock, Hernando de Soto and an army of over...read more
Preservation Environmental Factors Water Quality and Aquatic Resources Baseline Water Quality Data, Arkansas Post National...read more
Just For Kids For Kids Arkansas Post National Memorial Junior Ranger Program Become an Arkansas Post Junior Ranger, its easy! Just complete at least five of the activities in the Junior Ranger Activity Booklet. Tour...read more
Rivers and Streams RIvers & Streams The Arkansas River has long served as an important transportation corridor into the interior of North America; first for American Indians and later for European explorers and...read more
Planning Your Visit Plan Your Visit Accessibility MOBILITY All exhibit areas of the visitor are fully accessible. Most of the park's two and a half mile trail system is paved,...read more
In A Nutshell Management Acreage Gross Area Acres for FY 2004 - 758 Gross Area Acres for FY 2003 - 758 Visitation Total Recreation Visits for FY 2004- 37,218 Total Recreation Visits for FY 2003- 37,565 Budget FY 2004 Annual...read more
Things To Do Things To Do Activities Visitor Center and Museum: Visitors are invited to view the park movie - "Arkansas Post: Echoes of the Past" and explore museum exhibits reflecting over three hundered years...read more
Natural World Plants Plants The land-based portion of the park, 117 hectares, is characterized by terrace landscapes, flat terrain, and various stands of upland and lowland hardwoods. Bayous and swamps are interspersed throughout...read more
PARK PHOTOS
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National Park Service
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National Park Service
Arkansas Post, 2491
National Park Service
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