Pea Ridge National Military Park protects the site of the Civil War battle that was fought over 2 days in the 4,300-acre (17-square-kilometer) park. The crucial clash gave the Union control over Missouri and was followed by the federal occupation of Arkansas. Explore the preserved battlefield where 26,000 soldiers fought to decide the fate of the West and see intact preserved battle artifacts. Examine the displays in a museum dedicated to telling the history of the war and the stories of those who fell.
Upon entering the vast meadows of the park, you’ll see the Pea Ridge Visitor Center. The visitor center’s museum exhibits give insight into the Battle of Pea Ridge. The Confederate army was lead by Major General Earl Van Dorn and included around 800 Cherokees. Learn about the Union forces, which were lead by General Samuel R. Curtis.
Embark on an interpretive trail or go on a self-guided driving tour of the vast battlefield. The park’s network of trails can be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback, with a main road for cars. Each will bring you to stunning and thought-provoking vistas across the historic battlefield, dotted with artifacts and monuments dedicated to the fallen from both the Union and Confederate armies.
Explore a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) segment of the Trail of Tears, the pathway that commemorates the Native Indian nations affected by the Indian Removal Act. Visit the site’s Elkhorn Tavern, a two-story wooden building originally built in 1833. The tavern was the epicenter of the second day of fighting and the 1865 reconstruction has been beautifully restored. You can explore the tavern’s period interior between fall and spring.
Pea Ridge National Military Park is located in Garfield in northwestern Arkansas, near the Missouri border. Learn more about the site through the informative orientation film and bookstore at the visitor center. The park grounds are open daily, year-round while the visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years’ Day. Parking is available on-site.