These are historic sites or interpretive facilities on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail in Arkansas that you can visit:

Delta Cultural Center, Helena

Locations: 141 Cherry St. and 95 Missouri St., both in downtown Helena.

Telephone: (870) 338-4350 or (800) 358-0972

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Historical Significance: Helena, located along the Mississippi, witnessed the forced migration of thousands of Cherokee along the “water route” to Indian Territory during the summer of 1838.

Available Facilities: The cultural center has two main facilities: the visitor center (on Cherry St.) and the depot (on nearby Missouri St.)

Exhibits: The depot contains two major permanent exhibits. One of these, called “A Heritage of Determination,” tells the Arkansas Delta from prehistory to the present.  Included are two exhibits that interpret the Indian removal period, specifically as they impacted the local Quapaw.

To learn more: www.deltaculturalcenter.com

Fitzgerald Station and Farmstead, Springdale

Location: 2327 Old Wire Road, northeast of Springdale

Hours: private property, access restricted

Historical Significance: John Fitzgerald and his family moved to this site between 1828 and 1833. Soon afterward, they built an inn and tavern along the so-called military road that ran in front of their property; these business were well known by the late 1830s. Approximately 8,000 Cherokee passed by this site along the Northern Route during 1838-39. This tavern was mentioned in the diary of B.B. Cannon, who with a contingent of 365 Cherokee passed by here in December 1837; it was also noted n the diary of William Morrow, a doctor with the Taylor Detachment that camped here in March 1839.that was on the Cherokee Trail of Tears in early 1839. Later, the barn was built as a stage stop. Fitzgerald's Station was a stage stop for the Butterfield Stage line in the late 1850's to early 1860's.

Available Facilities: The original barn that was built for the stage line is still standing, and it is one of the very few original buildings that still exist along the historic Butterfield Stage route. The property also holds a house that was built in the 1870s. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 2003.

Exhibits: Two historical markers are situated at the entrance to the property.

To learn more: www.uark.edu/campus-resources/archinfo/fitz.html

Lake Dardanelle State Park, Russellville

Location: The park’s address is 100 State Park Drive in Russellville, Pope County. The park is located at 2428 Marina Road, which is 4 miles west of Russellville, off State Highway 326.

Phone: (479) 967-5516

Hours: unrestricted.

Historical Significance: The Western Cherokee settled near here in the late 1700s, and established towns, plantations and the Dwight Mission School.  Almost 50 years later, the Trail of Tears brought all five tribes through here by water or land.  The park is an NPS-certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. This is one of the few locations where stories of all five tribes can be told.

Available Facilities: Lake Dardanelle State Park offers a wide range of recreation opportunities, including fishing, swimming, picnicking, boating, and camping. A visitor center offers interpretive displays. The park, which is certified on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, is operated by the Department of Parks and Tourism, Arkansas State Parks Division. Lake Dardanelle is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Exhibits: The Trail of Tears is interpreted in exhibits in the visitor center. An outdoor exhibit about the trail can also be seen in the park. The lake includes the historic and modern channels of the Arkansas River, which are part of the water route of the Trail of Tears.

Special Programs: Interpretive programs include guided hikes, nature talks, demonstrations, and evening slide shows and movies. Off-season programs and hikes are available, and groups may request special programs, arranged in advance.

To learn more: www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakedardanelle or www.historystateparks.com/trail-of-tears

Mount Nebo State Park, near Dardanelle

Location: 16728 West State Highway 155, four miles west of Dardanelle.

Telephone: (479) 229-3655

Hours: no restrictions

Historical Significance: Scenic overlooks at Sunrise Point and Sunset Point provide dramatic vistas of the Arkansas River, the water route of the Congressionally-designated National Historic Trail of Tears. It also overlooks the area where the Western Cherokee settled in the late 1700s.

Available Activities: camping, cabins, trails

To learn more: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mountnebo or www.historystateparks.com/trail-of-tears

North Little Rock Riverfront Park, North Little Rock

Location: North bank of Arkansas River between Main St. Bridge and Interstate 30 Bridge, North Little Rock.

Hours: no restrictions

Historical significance: the site is located in the immediate vicinity of a large number of (north-south) land migration routes and (east-west) water migration routes for the Cherokee and other southeastern tribes during the 1830s and 1840s.

Available Facilities: on the path of the Arkansas River Trail (pedestrian and bicycling path)

Exhibits: seven interpretive panels commemorating the Cherokee Trail of Tears and similar forced migrations by the other Five Civilized Tribes

Website: none.

Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton

Location: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton.

Telephone: (501) 727-5441

Hours: not restricted

Historical Significance: Overlooks at the east and west ends of Petit Jean Mountain provide dramatic vistas of the Arkansas River, the water route of the Trail of Tears, a Congressionally-designated national historic trail.

Available Activities: cabins, camping, hiking, overlooks, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking

To learn more: www.petitjeanstatepark.com/history or www.historystateparks.com/trail-of-tears

Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Little Rock

Location: 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock (park is 15 miles west of Little Rock)

Telephone: (501) 868-5806

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Historical Significance: This 1,011-foot peak has been a landmark overlooking the Arkansas River for centuries. Native Americans undoubtedly saw it as they moved up the river by boat. Overlooks at the park visitor center provide spectacular views of the water route of the Trail of Tears, a Congressionally-designated national historic trail.

Available Activities: hiking, wildlife observation, picnicking, arboretum

To learn more: www.arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain or www.historystateparks.com/trail-of-tears