Arkansas Post National Memorial, Arkansas

Arkansas Post National Memorial (see map) commemorates the first successful European settlement in the Lower Mississippi River. It is located at 1741 Old Post Road, in Arkansas County, 8 miles (13 km) to the southeast of Gillett, in Arkansas.

The first European settlement was the Lower Mississippi River Valley was established in 1686. It was a trading post founded by Henri de Tonti at the Quapaw Indian village of Osotouy. The site is where the Arkansas River enters the Mississippi River. It was known as Arkansas Post.

The site of Arkansas Post was where Christian services were conducted for the first time in Arkansas. Later in 1783, the site saw skirmishes between rival troops during the American Revolutionary War.

Arkansas Post became part of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. It was initially selected to be the capital of Arkansas Territory, but in 1821, the statge capital was relocated to Little Rock, diminishing its significance.

Being at the strategic confluence of two major rivers, Arkansas Post was the site of the Battle of Fort Hindman, during the American Civil War in 1863. The battle refers to Fort Hindman, an earthwork fortification constructed by the Conferate Army and named after Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman. Union forces managed to destroy Fort Hindman during an assault which also destroyed the civilian areas of Arkansas Post.

Arkansas Post was designated a National Memorial as well as a National Historic Landmark on 6 July, 1960.

Visiting Arkansas Post National Memorial, Arkansas

The site is located off US Highway 165. From Gillett, take US Highway 165 south until you arrive at the Arkansas Post Museum State Park. Turn left to State Highway 169 and follow it till you arrive at Arkansas Post National Memorial.

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