Davidsonville Historic State Park

We continue to take advantage of our beautiful Arkansas State Parks.  

This year marks the Arkansas Territorial Bicentennial celebration, and Davidsonville Historic State Park held a living history day to help students get a taste of life in 1819.

According to Wikipedia:  "There is evidence that the site was occupied by French colonists prior to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Archeologists have discovered evidence of Native American use of the site as early as 4,000 BC. The 1822 courthouse was apparently built on top of an Indian mound which was built before 1,100 AD. 

Davidsonville was founded in 1815 and rapidly became the most important town in northeast Arkansaw Territory, but was abandoned by the 1830s. The community served as a river port town on the west bank of the Black River, near the confluence of the Spring River and Eleven Point River with the Black River. 

The town was on important stop on the Southwest Trail and featured several important frontier establishments. In 1817 the first post office of Arkansas Territory opened in the town, followed in 1820 by the first federal land office of the territory. In 1822, the first courthouse of Arkansas Territory was built in Davidsonville.

Shortly after the town's founding the Southwest Trail was rerouted onto higher ground, bypassing Davidsonville. New towns appeared along the trail's new route, diminishing Davidsonville's importance. In 1828 the land office was moved to Batesville, about 60 miles southwest.

In 1829 the county seat and courthouse began a series of moves to a number of other towns. Today there are very few remains above ground. The townsite, which had been a grid of streets with a central square where the courthouse stood, now looks like a grassy field with a few trees."

Our kids loved the hands-on activities and learning while listening to the VERY interesting park interpreters dressed in period clothing.

Even if the temps were just hovering above freezing, and the wind seemed to be trying to snatch our fingers and noses away.

We shared the day with some of our favorite friends for state park hopping.

And when we need a gasoline stop on the way home, we thawed out with a much needed hot chocolate and coffee break to finish well.