To contact the park: (479) 846-2990
Prairie Grove is recognized nationally as one of America's most intact Civil War battlefields. The park protects the battle site and interprets the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier resulting in about 2,700 casualties in a day of fierce fighting. This marked the last major Civil War engagement in northwest Arkansas.
Walk along the ridge and in the valley where the heaviest fighting took place. Take the one-mile Battlefield Trail or travel the park's five-mile Driving Tour. Visit the Battlefield Museum. Tour the historic structures in the Ozark village.
Park exhibits, tours and programs describe the battle and its local effect here in the Ozarks.
The park hosts Arkansas's largest battle re-enactment biennially in even-numbered years during the first weekend of December. The next re-enactment will be held December 4-5, 2010. Commemorating the 148th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove. Activities will include guided tours through Union, Confederate and civilian camps; military drills conducted by re-enactors; cooking, spinning and lace-making demonstrations; and living history programs. Beginning at 1:00 p.m. each day, battle demonstrations will feature charges and counterattacks by Union and Confederate infantry and cavalry on the actual battlefield near the historic Borden House.
Visit our online calendar of events for specially-scheduled programs. Also, every day that the park is open, you can take part in the following:
Geocache Tour: Enjoy this self-guided, 15-point, virtual cache tour of the park grounds. Total walking distance is just over one mile. This tour may take 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete, depending on your experience level with geocaching. The first point coordinates are N 35° 58.988, W 094° 18.631. Please remember that by policy, geocaches can only be placed by park employees at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.
Driving Tour (self-guided): See the Prairie Grove grounds from your vehicle during a six-mile driving tour. You may opt to rent or purchase an audio tour on CD. The 55-minute compact disc leads visitors through 14 stops along the tour. It contains a narrator, providing a description of events, and directions to each stop, which are also marked by signs. Other voices, reading material from historical papers such as letters, represent soldiers or settlers that lived through the battle. Contact the visitor center for details.
Battlefield Guided Walking Tour: Take a walk along the Prairie Grove ridge from the visitor center to the Borden House, where the heaviest local fighting occurred during the Civil War. A guide will offer details of the conflict, point out where significant events happened, and answer your questions along the way. Daily tours start from the Hindman Hall Visitor Center at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m, and last about one hour. You may also opt to take a self-guided walking or driving tour.
Historic House Guided Tour: Every day that the park is open, you can enjoy a guided tour through the historic Morrow and Latta houses, starting from Hindman Hall Visitor Center, at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., or 3:30 p.m. The Morrow House was a Confederate headquarters prior to the Civil War battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. The Latta House belonged to John and Jane Latta, who arrived in Arkansas Territory in 1834 and raised 12 children. Tour fee includes access to Hindman Hall Museum and viewing of park orientation films.
For more information about Arkansas State Parks historic, heritage and cultural parks, and museums, go to:
www.HistoryStateParks.com
The park is on U.S. 62 in Prairie Grove.
Park Hours:
* Museum open daily 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p. m.
* Picnic Area and Restrooms open daily 8:00 a.m. - one-hour after sunset.
* Museum, historic building and tours closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve at noon, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Museum and Self-guided Tour of Buildings:
* Adult--$3 each
* Child (6-12)--$2 each
* Family Pass--$10
Museum and Guided Tour of Buildings:
* Adult--$5 each
* Child (6-12)--$3 each
Family Pass--$15
Adult Group Rates (15 or more with advance notice): $.25 off above fees
Bona Fide School Groups (with advance notice): $2.00/person