Used as a field hospital during the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Elkhorn Tavern is a focal point on the Pea Ridge National Military Park.
On March 7-8, 1862, over 23,000 soldiers fought here to decide the fate of Missouri which was a turning point of the war in the Trans-Mississippi. This 4,300-acre battlefield honors those who fought and died on these hallowed grounds. Pea Ridge was the most pivotal Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River.
Pea Ridge National Military Park to Host Take a Walk on the Wild Side on Saturday, October 19, 2024. The National Park Service invites the public to Take a Walk on the Wild Side on Saturday, October 19. The program will begin at 10 a.m. at Stop #1 along the park’s Tour Road. Attend this Wildland Scene Investigation course to learn about wildlife observation, beginning tracking skills, outdoor safety, and Leave No Trace wilderness ethics. Participants are encouraged to arrive by 9:55, as well as to bring insect repellent, plenty of water, and a comfortable lawn chair for the two-hour program. Times and locations are subject to change depending on weather conditions. For more information, please call 479-451-8122.
The National Park Service invites the public to Pea Ridge National Military Park on Saturday, July 20, to attend Civil War artillery programs. Demonstrations will take place behind the park Visitor Center at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Artillery cannons from Pea Ridge National Military Park and Fort Smith National Historic Site will be featured.
On June 19, at approximately 11 a.m., Cherokee Nation’s twelve Remember the Removal Bike Riders will cycle into Pea Ridge National Military Park to honor their ancestors by visiting a portion of the route more than 10,000 Cherokee traveled in the late 1830s as they were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands. Today known as the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, one of the best-preserved sections of the path lies along the Telegraph Road near Elkhorn Tavern. The riders will also visit Ruddick’s Field, where some removal contingents camped along the route.
On April 15 2024, the National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with Jefferson National Parks Association (JNPA), will begin accepting applications for the Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative (LMDI) grants for cultural heritage and educational projects in the Delta region, spanning Southern Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Applications are due by May 31, 2024.
During recent white-tailed deer herd health sampling at Pea Ridge National Military Park, the National Park Service (NPS) received positive test results for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). One male deer tested positive, which is the first CWD-positive detection within the Military Park. However, CWD has been present in Arkansas since 2016 and in Benton County since 2018. In accordance with the park’s Deer Management Plan, the Military Park will begin deer reduction operations in the fall. Pea Ridge National Military Park and others in the region reduce deer populations to protect and restore native plants, promote healthy and diverse forests, and preserve historic landscapes, in addition to slowing wildlife disease transmission rates. There is currently no evidence that CWD can infect humans, pets, or livestock. However, it is recommended that tissues from CWD-infected animals not be eaten. The venison from the deer that tested positive for CWD was destroyed.