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| Freedom Park |
On this Veterans Day, I’m thinking about my recent Civil War tour of Helena, Arkansas. Arkansas is rich in Civil War history and Helena in particular has a unique past as a Union stronghold. Yes, Union… Although a pro-South state, the town of Helena (population 1,600 at the time) was largely untouched by Civil War until General Samuel Curtis marched into town with twelve thousand Union soldiers.
This year marked the 150th year of the Battle of Helena. I’m embarrassed to say until my recent trip to Helena, (courtesy of Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission), I wasn’t aware of this battle. I was always more concerned with diagramming sentences than history, and this particular battle slipped through the cracks of my Arkansas education. Plus, perhaps understandably the Battle of Helena was completely overshadowed by Gettysburg, which occurred the same day.
Camps at Freedom Park housed most of the slaves escaping through Arkansas. This was Arkansas’ first stop on the Underground Railroad.
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| Re-enactor Jack Myers (Delta Cultural Center) at Freedom Park. |
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| Freedom Park includes five exhibits with illustrated panels, life size figures and statues, and structures representing a plantation house and refugee dwelling. |
From inside this earthen fort, the sky looked the same, yet the ground felt hallowed.
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| Fort Curtis |
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| Fort Curtis |
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| View of the Mississippi from Battery C |
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| Battery C under development – Wire structure to represent original earthen battery. |
Helena is a must see for history buffs. Even if you’ve never considered yourself a fan of Civil War history, you’ll probably change your mind after a visit to Helena. How could you not?
On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls…This is the great reward of service. To live far out and on, in the life of others;…to give life’s best for such high sake that it should be found again unto eternal life.― Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Check out my other Helena blog posts by clicking on the links below…
King Biscuit Time and the Music of Helena
Canoeing the Mississippi River at Helena
Great round up of these visits. You are so ahead of the game! Love the photo captures. I need to shadow you😍
Thanks Debbie! I don’t know about shadowing me – your Mississippi River post/pics were pretty terrific!
Awesome info on Helena and the Battle of Helena! I’ve been there many times, and I’m sorry to admit that I knew nothing about the Civil War significance of Helena. As always, your blog is Awesome and a Great read. Thanks for sharing this, Talya. Now, I know what I didn’t know and should have known.
Thanks for reading Tim:)
Great, as usual.
That’s an astute answer to a tricky quteison
You make me want to visit Helena. So much history right in our own backyard.