Military Park considers new programming
Pea Ridge National Military Park was dedicated as a national park during the Civil War’s Centennial in 1963.
Pea Ridge was one of the most pivotal Civil War battles and is the most intact Civil War battlefield in the United States.
The cultural landmark holds fast to many traditions — such as regular, guided caravan tours and daily campaign talks — but rangers also work to consistently add exhibits to the museum and new activities to the calendar.
Troy Banzhaf, chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services, would like to see a number of new attractions incorporated throughout the park this season.
“For years I’ve been wanting to a host a ‘Military Timeline Day’ where living historians from each war — beginning with the Revolutionary War all the way to current conflicts — set up stations for visitors to learn about the assigned gear and equipment for that time period,” said Banzhaf.
He also has hopes to generate support for additional native wildlife tours, bird walks and evening astronomy classes.
Two popular attractions that are slated for summer are the “Remember the Removal” memorial bike ride and “Digging Up Arkansas,” a
historical play.
Members of the Cherokee Nation will visit PRNMP on June 20, in conjunction with their annual pilgrimage from New Echota, Ga., to Tahlequah, Okla., along the northern route of the Trail of Tears.
The trail intersects the park, from the northeast corner to the southwest edge of the property.
At noon, rangers will offer an exclusive tour with focus on the Cherokee and their time spent in Pea Ridge. After touring the Elkhorn Tavern, visitors will walk to Federal Line via the historic trail route, discussing the native vegetation that tribesmen and women would have found along the way.
The U.S. government surveyed the area just one month before the Cherokee traveled through the area, so historians have a detailed account of the landscape then.
In the late 1830s, 11,000 Cherokee passed through the park as part of 11 differ- ent contingents.
Ruddick’s Field will be the last stop on the tour. Here, archaeology students from the University of Arkansas will be available to answer any questions the cyclists or park visitors may have.
For the younger crowd, “Digging Up Arkansas” is sure to please. The story is set in the 1920s at the peak of the Works Progress Association. WPA employees package relics of Arkansas for a time capsule and explain the significance of the items along the way.
Local schools will visit the park for showings from Sept. 25 - 29.
Visitors seeking a lesson in cultural significance are always in for a treat at the Elkhorn Tavern as well. The tavern was used as a hospital for both sides during the conflict and is jampacked with history.
“Elkhorn Tavern is the center of a lot of what happened here,” said Ken Lockhart, park employee and passionate historian.