Pea Ridge National Military Park

Address:15930 Highway 62
Garfield, Arkansas
Tel: (479) 451-8122

Walk the trails and drive the roads of the Pea Ridge battlefield, and remember the men who gave their lives. Pea Ridge National Military Park preserves the memory of the brave men who fought and died here to preserve the ideals of American freedom.

In 1862, 26,000 soldiers fought at the Pea Ridge battlefield over the fate of Missouri and today, this 4,300 acre park honors those who fought for Missouri statehood. The Battle of Pea Ridge was fought on March 7 and March 8 of 1862. The Union army defeated the Confederate troops, cementing Union control over the new state of Missouri. The visitors' center is a great place to start your tour of the battlefield, where there's a small museum displaying uniforms and weapons like those used in the Battle of Pea Ridge. A 30-minute film made from the viewpoint of an old soldier who returned years later to the site of the battle he fought in as a young man, provides a moving overview of the battle and it's importance in the Civil War. There are ten stops during the drive through the battlefield, each one designed to provide information relating to battle action and to highlight significant features in each area of the park, which also features an 11 mile equestrian trail, a 10 mile hiking trail, and a 7-mile, self-guided loop road. Visitors are welcome to hike, horseback ride, and picnic at this military park. The bookstore sells taped tour guides that are a good way to learn more about the battle as you explore the park. And for you nature lovers, Pea Ridge provides excellent wildlife viewing—keep your eyes peeled for stunning white tailed deer and wild turkey. If visiting in March, don't miss the battle's anniversary re-enactment, where men dressed in period uniforms and armed with weapons of the Civil War talk about what it was like to serve in a civil war army encampment and what it was like to be involved in the battle for Pea Ridge. To get here from the Northeast (Republic, MO): Take US 60 to Monett, MO, then south on MO 37 to Gateway, AR. Go west on US 62 to the park.