Helena

Helena is a town that stretches along the western bank of the Mississippi River in Phillips County, Arkansas. It features Victorian architecture mixed with agricultural fields and sits at a modest elevation above the river.

The town developed as a river port and became strategically important during the Civil War when Union forces held it against Confederate assault. The fighting in 1863 represented a turning point in controlling the region.

The Delta Cultural Center exhibits objects and stories from Native American times through the Civil War era, showing how different groups shaped the region. The museum helps visitors understand the layered history visible in the town itself.

The town is laid out along a main route with easy access to key attractions and museums. Plan ahead especially in autumn when major events draw large crowds.

Fort Curtis was built in 1862 by Union soldiers and freed enslaved people working together, a rare example of joint labor during wartime. The fort reveals the different roles people took on in the struggle.