Yep, been there several times. Its not my favorite site due to the way they have the tour road set-up. Very poor visibilty of the battlefield and markers and landmarks aren't very well presented. There are only two monumnets on the grounds compared to over 1400 at Gettysburg, but Pea Ridge was one of the biggest battles west of the ol Miss in Mar 1862... They also call it the Battkle of Elkhorn Tavern. I attached two pics I took of the Tavern last Aug....It was the main battle area although Pea ridge covers quite abit of ground.

 

Cool stuff. Do they ever do reenactments there?

 

I'm not sure how often they gather there but they do have some reenactments. Believe it or not they say its one of the best preserved battlefields in the country. I guess thats because it hasn't been trampled on by housing & urban development (yet).. That area has grown big time since I first visted there in the mid '70's. They have a very nice 30 minute movie/history lesson at the Vistors center.. I also hear they are looking into maybe rerouting/moving some of the roads around that area and building a bigger vistors center and moving some of the 'tour road' . I think that's Route 62 that goes by there.


http://www.ozarkmerchants.com/pea_ridge_gallery.html

 

That's a cool hobby chris! You're right though about being so far away from an area that you can really find things. This is why I collect Indian artifacts. You should try it sometime if you haven't with your interest in the Civil War stuff you would love to find some stuff a few thousand years or more older than the Civil War. Unlike the Civil War stuff, there is an abundance of Native American artifacts to be found if you know where to look right here in Oklahoma.

 

That does sound interesting. That is one area that would interest me and as you say, its right here in our back yard.

 

If these flooded rivers ever fall this summer I'll let you know. Perhaps we can schedule an outing. I like to look on the Grand river between lake hudson and Ft. gibson. Right now the lake is almost 30 feet above normal so my usual hunting ground is underwater.

 

Sounds like a good drift dive!

 

I wish I could dive and see what was under the water in the area that I search. I have thought about snorkeling it.

 

I wanna do this... A buddy of mine did and has 100's of the teeth. YOu find arrow heads too.... http://www.cooperriver.com/

 

I'm in!!! Would love to explore some and finding something interesting would be icing on the cake!!! I bet with all the water flowing, that has stirred up the earth quite abit!!!

 

That would be cool, As long as they aren't still attached to the shark!!

 

Did someone say Beaver? and diving in?

 

The Megaladons are long gone... They're prehistoric sharks.. Now that's old!

 

I knew the kid would pick up on that...

 

Thats cool Paul I would be in on that. I bet you can find the same stuff on the Arkansas in the right spots.

 

I'll get you this shirt next time I'm up there....

 

I stayed a half block from grants home in Galena last week end

 

Very Cool!!!! Thats one place I haven't been to.

 

I ate at colonel sanders place once. Does that count for anything?

 

pete maxwell made me dinner one time, after a long day on the chowline out summer way