
Prairie Grove Battlefield

There are two Civil War battlefields in our area. For reasons I don’t know, one of them (Prairie Grove) is a state park, and the other (Pea Ridge) is a national military park.

On Sunday afternoon, we visited Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park with some friends. I told them about the state park passbook program, and Diana was interested in starting to collect the stamps.


We were fascinated to learn more about the Battle of Prairie Grove. It’s hard to imagine that it happened so close to our home.

It happened more than 160 years ago on December 7, 1862, so of course, there’s not much left to indicate that a battle ever occurred here.

Sadly, the battle was pretty much a draw. “Union forces reported suffering 1,251 casualties (including 175 dead); Confederate forces reported 1,317 casualties (between 164 and 204 dead).”

It was a sobering visit but a beautiful spring day for a drive.
More Posts about Arkansas State Parks
Other Adventures We’ve Had in Arkansas
- Mulberry River Road Scenic Byway
- Mountain Crest Academy
- A Visit with Lum and Abner
- Ancestral Cemeteries on Memorial Day
- Territorial Fair in Little Rock and a Visit to the State House
- Camping on Beaver Lake
- Natural Dam and Other Back Roads Adventures
- War Eagle Mill and My Great-Great-Great Grandmother

