Tag: Arkansas Post National Memorial

Menard Mounds

July 5, 2013
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One of the nine known mounds at Menard Mounds in southern Arkansas County.

I’m fascinated with the history of Arkansas County. It’s been a focal point for me in the recent months since the county is celebrating its bicentennial this year and Arkansas Post National Memorial has started work to open its Osotouy Unit up to the public.

The Osotouy Unit covers 400 acres just a quarter of a mile north of where the Quapaw village of Osotouy once sat (now known as Wallace Bottoms). It’s the village that Henri de Tonti established the original “Poste de Arkansea” near in 1686. Today, all that remains are nine known mounds (known as the Menard Mounds) that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a National Historic Landmark.
Arkansas Post has now started working on its document that would guide management of Osotouy Unit and allow the national park to receive funding to develop pedestrian trails and interpretive opportunities linking the two sites. It’s a project park officials say will take a while to complete.However, once done, it will be a fascinating place to visit. I simply couldn’t wait until then so Izzie and I traveled to the site with my visiting parents. I would have gotten lost if it weren’t for them.In past years, it was owned by a logging company so the roads were rough and it took me a while to find the nearest community — the unincorporated town of Nady. Here’s some pictures once I found it:

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We originally passed the gate to Menard Mounds and continued on driving down the logging road. We just happened to see the gate as we were returning.
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A not-so-unusual view.
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Lots of flowers.
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I love these.
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The drive down was beautiful just by itself.
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View by the mounds.
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More flowers in the field.
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Summer Tanager.
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Izzie was a mess by the time we left.
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This raccoon flew past us.
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Back at home, this Red-Winged Blackbird greeted me at the feeder.
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Red-Winged Blackbird outburst.

 

200-year anniversary

November 28, 2012

In 2013, Arkansas County will celebrate its 200th anniversary. It was named a county in 1813 by the Territorial Legislature of Missouri after an American Indian settlement, the Arkansas. Yes, it’s older than the state. According to arkansas.com, the Arkansas Territory was organized in 1819 and Arkansas was admitted to the Union as a state in 1836.

To celebrate, I decided to look back at pictures from my visit to the Arkansas Post Museum. This year marked my first visit to the museum, although I frequently visit the nearby Arkansas Post National Memorial. The museum, established in 1960, is the first county museum in Arkansas.

It focuses on the Arkansas Delta cultural and biological heritage with an emphasis on the Grand Prairie. I’m fascinated with the gallows — the iron piece was built in 1908 and stored in the Arkansas County Jail’s rafters in DeWitt to use as needed for capital punishment. It was never used since the electric chair was invented in 1913.

I also love the historical and cultural artifacts that the museum has displayed, especially the below dollhouse. The dollhouse was built in 1933 for Harriet Jane Carnes Bonner and is life-size. It even has the original toys and furniture as well as a fire place, electric lights and a screened porch.

Nearby are:

WWI clothing worn by an Arkansas County resident
The main house actually had three pianos/organs in a room. The pieces were gorgeous with great details.

The museum, as the above pictures show, is filled to the brim with fascinating objects relating to the county’s history. It’s worth stopping by to help kickoff the county’s anniversary with a lesson on its history.

If you do go, don’t forget the Refeld-Hinman Log House! It was built for Amelia Haller Refield in 1877 and the widow actually went on to marry one of the men who helped build it. The house was eventually sold to Curtis Hinman in 1884 and was later restored in the 1930s to serve as the headquarters for the Arkansas Post State Park. The house was moved to the museum once the state park became a national memorial.

 

Do you see what I see (II) …

April 5, 2012
Pied-billed Grebe

After the bayou float, I had to walk about Arkansas Post to find the red-bellied woodpecker. I found the awesome bird and more.

Do you see the American Alligator?
Canada Goose
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Hairy or Downy Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Brown Thrasher
White-throated Sparrow

Do you see what I see?

March 8, 2012

Last night, I was sorting through pictures from the Arkansas Post and stumbled across this picture.

I love turtles, which probably stemmed from my sorority days (Delta Zeta = turtles). So when I took the above picture, I focused solely on the turtles sunbathing. Not once, did I not the little guy right beside them. Do you see him? Look a little closer…

It’s funny that I got this picture. Just 20 minutes earlier I was telling a park ranger how I really wanted to see an alligator. Well, I got my wish, sort of.