Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
Next to Gettysburg or Vicksburg Battlefields, this is one of the best you will find in the country
Check out the slide shows, pictures, videos, and information below.
Entrance Sign | Borden House where Battle Was Fought | Used for hospital-Cane Hill Battle |
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The Prairie Grove Battle on December 7, 1862, was the last major Civil War engagement in northwest Arkansas. It was intense fighting, which eventually ended in a Union victory over the Confederate troops. The battlefield stretches over much of the town of Prairie Grove and surrounding hills and southwest to the town of Cane Hill.
The park itself is located atop the hill where the primary battle was fought. The Hindman Hall Building on the park's grounds is a museum with displays to tell about the Battle that raged here during the Civil War. There is a one mile walking tour around the battlefield with self guided signs to explain the fighting. There is also a five mile driving tour with 14 stops at important points where the battle was fought. A visit to this park is well worth your time so make plans for this if visiting in the area.
If you need a campground, I suggest you check out Withrow Springs State Park not far away or one of the Corps of Engineers parks on Beaver Lake. If you prefer to stay in a motel, check out accommodations in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
For more information check out the following links:
There are several pictures below to show what the park has to offer.
Hover mouse on photos to see descriptions.
Battled DetailedBattle took place December 7, 1862. | Gate to ParkEntrance gate to the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. |
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Hindman Museum-canonThis building is a museum that details the battle that took place here. | TrailheadA one mile walking trail takes a visitor around the focal area of the battle with self-guided signs to explain the battle. |
Trail for self-guided tourArlene on the one mile trail. | School HouseOne of the buildings on the grounds. |
Sorghum MillAnother building on the grounds. | ChurchOld church on the property. |
Front View of Borden HouseThe Borden House was in the center of the battle, which took place in the valley below it. | Field of fightingHere is the field below the Borden House where the battle ensued. |
Herron's AttackUnion troop's under Herron lead final attack, but confederates had already left due to running out of supplies. | Map of BattleThe confederates held the hill and the union troops were in the cornfield at the bottom of the hill. |
Last hold out for confederatesConfederates ran out of supplies so had to retreat from this hilltop. | CanonView from confederate canon position. They had all the advantage. |
Borden House on hillView Union troops looking up at the canons. | Beginning of Driving TourA five mile driving tour is another way to look at the park. |
Battle Trail StopThis is near the main battlefield, but is part of the driving tour. |
Re-enactment at the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove. The 3 1/2 minute video was done by Arkansas Parks and Tourism.
Nine Days before the ferocious battle at Prairie Grove, there was a skirmish at Cane Hill, a community just to the southwest of Prairie Grove. Below are some pictures of that area. Click Here to see details of the fighting around that area.
The signs are views from Cane Hill Cemetery and sites of the skirmish there. The unrestored building in Cane Hill was used as a hospital in the battle. The other picture just is a mill just south of Cane Hill where grains were ground in 1800's. Later it was used as a saw mill.
This 6 1/2 minte video done by the Arkansas Parks and Tourism describes what happened in the Prairie Grove Battle.
This 2 minute video was done by 5NEWS about the newly renovated Hindman Hill Museum at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.