Few People Know This Historic Arkansas Park Also Has A 12-Acre Sunflower Field
By Carol Ann Carson|Published August 15, 2019
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
Parkin Archeological State Park is filled with fascinating historical evidence left by ancient civilizations, but that’s not the only reason to visit. This historical state park also has an amazing field of sunflowers to see during summer. Let’s learn a little history and stop to smell the flowers as we tour the park in Parkin.
Parkin Archeological State Park is one of the parks focused on the history of Arkansas.
All of Arkansas' 52 state parks are historic but not every place is focused on a mountain or lake. Take a trip to any of the battlefield, museum, or archaeological state parks to look into specific parts of Arkansas' rich history.
Address: 60 State Highway 184, Parkin, AR 72373
The main focus of the park is the preservation of an ancient Native American village.
This village was estimated to have existed between AD 1000 to 1550. In addition to the hundreds of artifacts on display in the museum, the Arkansas Archeological Survey routinely conducts digs to find more lost pieces of this village.
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The trails around the park will tour you pass massive mounds dating back centuries.
The mounds are an interesting site to see indeed! Other preserved landmarks include the 1920s-era Northern Ohio Lumber Cooperage Company and the Northern Ohio School House.
During the summer, a huge field of sunflowers take over 12-acres of the park. The flowers don't last too long, just a few weeks, but they are a great incentive to visit the park. To keep the field as beautiful as possible, no frolicking or picking are allowed. That said, pictures are certainly encouraged!
The towering field may not quite hold the same historical significance of the mounds but the sunflowers are positively enchanting mid-bloom.
The original people of the village were known to use sunflower seeds but these sunflowers are simply used to dazzle guests and feed the local birds. Todd Fisk is the mastermind behind the field. He donates his time and equipment to ensure the field is maintained year after year.
Don't hesitate, you'll need to plan your Parkin trip soon if you want to catch the flowers.
The flowers should be blooming until the end of August. Even if you're unable to see the flowers until next year, this state park is well worth the visit year round.
Have you visited Parkin Archeological State Park during the summer? We would love to see your sunflower pics in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
Parkin isn’t the only hidden gem that will take you back into history.
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