21 State Parks in 2021 Challenge – Part 3:
Which of the Arkansas State Parks has the largest Civil War battle reenactment in the state? That would be Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park which is our #3 park in the 21 State Parks in 2021 Challenge.
#3 Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
Located in Prairie Grove, AR, this park has over 900 acres where on December 7, 1862 Confederate and Union soldiers fought and had 2,700 casualties. The battle was listed as a Union win, but both sides were almost equal in the number of losses.
The park has a free historical museum, a walking tour, a driving tour, and a playground. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is also the site of the annual Clothesline Craft Fair each year. It is a great place for families.
The Hindman Hall Museum
The free historical museum at the park is located in the visitor center. Here you can get your passport stamped, get some plastic soldiers for the kids, and watch a short documentary about the Battle of Prairie Grove.
The museum itself has exhibits of what life was like on the battlefield and has the timeline for the battles that took place here. Among these exhibits are currency, weapons and ammunition, medical supplies, and replicas of diaries.
The Walking Trail
The walking trail around the battlefield is a paved trail that tells the story, in chronological order, of the battle. It also has buildings that show what life was like in that time period. The buildings include a school, church, blacksmith shop, the Latta Barn, and the Borden House. The trail map can be picked up for free inside the visitor’s center.
Another highlight on the walking tour is the Ada Post Office Site. The post office sustained damage during the battle, and some of the rock foundation can still be seen here.
The Driving Tour
The driving tour is similar to the walking tour with the exception that it only covers the outer perimeter of the park. You can only see the buildings from a distance, and you are unable to look inside the windows to see the set up inside to replicate the time period.
The driving tour, however, does cover the Western Overlook and the Morton Homesite, which are not part of the walking tour.
The Playground
A neat area to sit and have a family picnic at this park is beside the playground. The kids can slide, swing, climb, and seesaw while parents can sit at the benches and tables that over look the play area. Restrooms are also conveniently located close to the play/picnic area. A covered pavilion is also nearby and can be reserved through the visitor’s center.
Final Thoughts
We highly suggest taking a trip to Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The walking tour took us about an hour, and we got some exercise and enjoyed the beautiful weather. The museum was a learning experience and even Morgan was able to attend to it. She also loved getting to pick some plastic toy soldiers. One of our favorite parts was looking in the different old-time buildings and glancing into the past.
Who knows where we will end up next for Park #4 in the 21 Arkansas State parks in 2021 Challenge ? Remember… Life’s Short… Take the Trip!
