Arkansas Post National Memorial

The first European settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley region, Arkansas Post became part of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. By 1819, the post was a thriving river port and the largest city in the region and was selected as the capital of the Arkansas Territory. Exhibits in the visitors center reflect more than 300 years of human history, and a 20-minute feature film, "Arkansas Post: Echoes of the Past," provides insights into the storied history of the Post.

The park contains the January 11, 1863 Arkansas Post battlefield where vastly superior numbers of Union troops under major General John McClernand defeated Confederate defenders under Brigadier General Thomas Churchill. While Fort Hindman now lies beneath the Arkansas River, there are still remnants of Confederate trenches. The park also has picnic and fishing areas and paved and unpaved trails.

Tour guides are available but must be requested in advance.