History And Nature Await At Arkansas' Cadron Settlement Park
By Carol Ann Carson|Published September 12, 2020
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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.
An afternoon spent at a local park is always an enjoyable break, but this park in Conway offers a little bit more. Cadron Settlement Park is filled with Native American and Civil War history! We’ll need to take the trail to earn our free history lesson so let’s grab a bottle of water and set off to learn more:
Cadron Settlement Park isn't your typical playground and picnic city park.
The park is a National Historic site that's filled with stories of the past. Beginning with French trading post roots and weathering the Civil War, this area has witnessed more than a fair share of Arkansas history.
You can learn about all of these pieces of the past by reading the plethora of plaques throughout the park.
The plaques give historical context to the area including the sites of the Trail of Tears, the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, Civil War battles, and memorials to many. The park's main feature is the restored Blockhouse, a replica of an early 18th century structure used as a trading post and defense base. If you'd like to delve deeper into the history you can read more here.
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The easiest way to tour the park is by taking the Tollantusky Trail.
The trail is a short and sweet loop through the park that's 1.5 miles long. This hike is perfect for families and their dogs as well! The trail connects to a larger system of mountain biking paths so it's easy to add length if you're needing more nature than history.
Not only will you tour through the open field for the bunkhouse and memorials, but you'll also be lead into the forest. This little loop leads you through the woods and over gentle hills for a pleasant nature escape.
After you've studied the plaques, take a break and enjoy the view.
The park overlooks the Arkansas River and the trail showcases it beautifully! There's also a boat ramp down at the shore if you'd like to enjoy the river from a closer perspective (and maybe catch a fish or two while you're there).
This park is a fantastic balance of nature and history just waiting to be discovered.
Take your family for their free history lesson by visiting Cadron Settlement Park! For more details on this park and surrounding city attractions visit Conway's Park & Rec website.
Have you taken a break at Cadron Settlement Park? What tidbit of history did you find most fascinating? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Of course the park is filled with gorgeous nature, too! Feel free to share your landscapes and vistas with us 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.
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