29 July 2013
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, Arkansas while not a National
Park is worth the effort to visit. We have been too many state run historical
sites but I have to say this is the best we have ever visited. The visitor
center is first rate. You can watch a film about the battle and wonderful
exhibits abound for those to view. The
book selections is one of the best I have ever seen in any type of park. Of
course I had to pick a few myself. Once
you are done with the visitor center you can walk the grounds surrounding the
visitor center and then take a self guided tour in your vehicle of the
battlefield.
The battlefield looks much the same as it did on December 7,
1862 Union and Confederate forces collided. But while there is not much else to
see other than the scenery, one can just image what it was like on that day. At
the end of the day's battle the Confederates retreated and the Union was
carried the day. The battle of Prairie
Grove marked the last major Civil War engagement in northwest Arkansas and
never again would a southern army attempt to use the area as an invasion point
into Missouri.
While the site may
not have the backing of the National Parks, it is still one of those hidden
gems and if you are into Civil War history it is must on your list to visit.
Visitor Center. Its hard to see but the mural above the doors is beautiful
Large monument to the fallen
Re-constructed Post Office that stood on the day of the battle
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