Camden Expedition Scenic Byway “Virtual” Meeting
Thursday, April 29, 2021
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
A virtual meeting will be held online via Zoom on Thursday April 29 at 6pm to provide information on a proposed Scenic Byway route that will focus on the Camden Expedition of 1864. The proposed driving route will promote heritage tourism in the communities that were impacted by the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War and have printed material and signage designating the route on state and federal highways.
The byway would affect the following communities and surrounding areas: Little Rock, Benton, Malvern, Rockport, Friendship, Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hollywood, Okolona, Prescott, Hope, Washington, Bluff City, Camden, Fordyce, Kingsland, Princeton, Tulip, Leola, Prattsville, and Sheridan. Arkansas State Parks included in this route include: Historic Washington State Park; Poison Springs Battleground State Park; Marks’ Mill Battleground State Park; and Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park.
In the Spring of 1864, federal troops left Little Rock with the goal of meeting another federal force at Shreveport, Louisiana and then entering Texas. This was part of the larger Red River Campaign. This particular expedition impacted many of the communities in Southwest Arkansas. The Camden Expedition included the following conflicts: Prairie D’Ane; Moscow Church; Poison Springs; Jenkins’ Ferry; Marks Mill, and other smaller engagements. For more information on the Camden Expedition visit: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/camden-expedition-1131/.
Contact the Historic Washington State Park at 870-983-2684 to register for the Virtual Meeting. Register by Wednesday, April 28 and provide a valid email address to attend online via ZOOM.
Historic Washington State Park, a restoration village preserving one of Arkansas’ most prominent 19th century towns, is located on US 278 nine miles north of Hope and can be reached by taking Exit 30 off Interstate 30. For more information visit www.HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com or call (870)983-2684.
In 2010 a preservation plan for the three battles
of the Camden Campaign located in Nevada County was prepared by Mudpuppy and Waterdog, Inc. of Versailles, Kentucky.
In 2014 the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Prairie D’Ane Reenactment was held on the Barnes farm, in Nevada County, which was part of the actual battlefield, to raise awareness of the history that happened here.
In late 2015 the Depot Museum was contacted by Hancock Timber to see if they were interested in purchasing 464 acres of Elkins’ Ferry Battlefield.
In August of 2016, through help of donors, the battlefield of Elkins’ Ferry was purchased and deeded to the Depot Museum. At this point Dr. Patrick Hale came forward and offered 808 acres of Prairie D’Ane Battlefield, with a generous offer, taking $500,000 off the appraised value of $1.4 million. A second interpretive plan was prepared by Mudpuppy and Waterdog, Inc and completed in July 2017.
After a year of fund raising, countless hours of volunteer work and networking across the state, 808 acres of the Prairie D’Ane Battlefield was purchased and deeded to the Depot Museum in February 2018.
Plans are to preserve both Elkins’ Ferry and Prairie D’Ane battlefield sites for historic value as well as prepare the properties for interpretive tours and living history events. Future plans are for the battlefields to become a source of heritage tourism for Nevada County and the southern region.
| | Join us in preserving Prescott and Nevada County history. The Nevada County Depot and Museum is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and it relies on donations from citizens like you to remain in operation, continuing to preserve state and local history for the greater community and for future generations. We greatly appreciate your support! Contributions go toward operations, maintenance of the building, preservation of artifacts, expansion and cataloging of the exhibits, and work on the history of the County. |