Arkansas Post National Memorial In 1686, Henri de Tonti established a trading post known as "Poste de Arkansea" at the Quapaw village of Osotouy. It was the first semi-permanent French settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley. The establishment of the Post was the first step in a long struggle between France, Spain, and England over the interior of the North American continent.
Over the years, the Post relocated as necessary due to flooding from the Arkansas River, but its position always served of strategic importance for the French, Spanish, American, and Confederate military. Spanish soldiers and British partisans clashed here in the 1783 "Colbert Incident," the only Revolutionary War action in Arkansas.
Arkansas Post became part of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. By 1819, the post was a thriving river port and the largest city in the region and selected the capital of the Arkansas Territory.
During the Civil War, Confederate troops tried to maintain tactical control of the confluence of the two rivers, and in 1862 they constructed a massive earthen fortification known as Fort Hindman. In January 1863 Union troops destroyed the fort and adjacent river port town, ensuring control of the Arkansas River.
Today, the memorial and museum commemorate the multi-layered and complex history of the site. Located on a peninsula bordered by the Arkansas River and two backwaters, the site offers excellent fishing and wildlife watching opportunities.
Bald Knob NWR Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1993 and is located one hour?s drive northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas. It is located in the flood plain of the White River and Red River adjacent to the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The refuge is an important stagging and wintering area for pintail ducks and hosts a large and diverse wintering concentration of both ducks and geese. The habitat of the refuge is a diverse mix of bottomland hardwood, a variety of wetland/moist soil management units, and a rice culture based cooperative farm operation. Water management capability is present and allows numerous management techniques for a variety of species. The refuge is becoming renown as a birding site due to the variety of waterfowl, shore and wading birds, neotropical birds, and a wintering concentration of bald eagles. Hunting and fishing opportunities are also available. Approximately 30,000 people each year visit the refuge and the number of visitors is expected to grow as facilities are developed on the refuge.
Beaver Lake Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, Beaver Lake is a nature lover's delight during all seasons. Towering limestone bluffs, natural caves and a variety of trees and flowering shrubs afford shutter bugs and nature lovers hours of enjoyment throughout the year. Modern campsites offer the best in recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Year-round commercial marinas provide grocery items, boat rental, fishing guides, supplies and services. There are caves and museums nearby.
Big Lake NWR Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in northeast Arkansas adjacent to the bootheel of Missouri. It is on the right-hand chute of Little River and is a portion of the sunken lands created during the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812. About half of the 11,036 acre refuge consists of cypress-willow swamp. Most of the remainder is open water and bottomland hardwood forests. In dry years Big Lake is the only significant water body available to waterfowl for resting and feeding in its part of the state. Big Lake provides essential winter and migration habitat for an abundance of waterfowl, shorebirds, and neotropical birds, as well as for bald eagles. It is home to white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bobcats, beaver, and river otter. Big Lake Refuge provides opportunities for birdwatching and other wildlife observation, bowhunting for deer, squirrel and raccoon hunting, and fishing.
Blue Mountain Lake Located in the shadow of Mt. Magazine, Arkansas' highest mountain, Blue Mountain Lake offers many recreational opportunities. Modern campgrounds provide many amenities for land- and water-based outdoor activities. A world-class bird dog field trial area attracts visitors from throughout the United States and other countries. Blue Mountain Lake's location between two national forests promotes the natural beauty of the area. There are plenty of activities available to keep any visitor to Blue Mountain Lake busy.
Buffalo National River The Buffalo River is one of the few remaining unpolluted, free-flowing rivers in the lower 48 states offering both swift-running and placid stretches. The Buffalo National River encompasses 135 miles of the 150-mile long river. It begins as a trickle in the Boston Mountains 15 miles above the park boundary. Following what is likely an ancient riverbed, the Buffalo cuts its way through massive limestone bluffs traveling eastward through the Ozarks and into the White River. The national river has three designated wilderness areas within its boundaries.
Headquarters is located in Harrison, Arkansas, providing administrative services to the national river. The Tyler Bend Visitor Center, the main visitor center for the park, is located eleven miles north of Marshall, Arkansas. The park has two other visitor contact stations; the Pruitt Ranger Station, located five miles north of Jasper, Arkansas on Highway 7, and Buffalo Point Ranger Station, located 17 miles south of Yellville, Arkansas, on Highway 14.
