Arkansas Post

Arkansas Post is a national memorial in Arkansas County preserving remains of early settlements and Civil War fortifications. The site extends along the shores of two rivers and includes accessible paths with interpretive panels explaining the former town layout.

Henri de Tonti founded the settlement in 1686 as the first European outpost in the Mississippi Valley under French rule. During the Civil War, the location became a battlefield in 1863 when Union forces attacked Confederate defenders, leading to the abandonment of the fortifications.

The site shows traces of French, Spanish, and American occupation where people once traded goods and built communities across different cultures. Visitors see evidence of how settlers and merchants shaped daily life along the river over several centuries.

Visitors can walk through the site on their own and read panels that explain the former town structure and battle events. The terrain is mostly flat and suitable for walking, with some areas closer to the water.

Parts of the original settlement now rest underwater after the Arkansas River flooded the ground. Archaeologists have recovered objects from the 17th century that remain stored out of visitor view.

Location: Arkansas County

Inception: 1686

Founders: Henri de Tonti

Elevation above the sea: 53 m

Part of: National Park System

Address: 1741 Old Post Road, Gillett, Arkansas 72055-9733

Phone: +18705482207

Website: https://nps.gov/arpo

GPS coordinates: 34.01667,-91.34528

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30