Arkansas Post National Memorial
Historic site in Arkansas. Built 1686. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The Arkansas Post, officially the Arkansas Post National Memorial, was the first European settlement located along the Mississippi River, in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and in the present-day U.S. state of Arkansas. In 1686, Henri de Tonti established it on behalf of Louis XIV of France for the purpose of trading with the Quapaw Nation.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Historic district |
| Address | 8 mi. SE of Gillett on AR 1 and 169, Gillett vicinity, AR |
| County | Arkansas |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Military, European heritage, Exploration and settlement, Politics and government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 66000198 |
| Built | 1686 · more from the 1680s |
| Type of place | Arkansas state park, battlefield, battlefield |
| Visitors per year | 30,126 |
| Contributing resources | 6 structures |
Visiting
| Address | 8 mi. SE of Gillett on AR 1 and 169, Gillett, AR |
| Website | nps.gov/arpo ↗ |
| Coordinates | 34.0209° N, 91.3485° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Arkansas Post National Memorial · 3 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Pendleton Bend 2 miles · Notrebes Bend Park 3 miles · Wilbur D. Mills 4 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Arkansas
Local history books for Arkansas
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Arkansas travel guides
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Arkansas Post National Memorial listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Arkansas Post National Memorial built?
1686.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Arkansas Post National Memorial?
Yes. Arkansas Post National Memorial is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website. About 30,126 people visit each year.
Source: Official website
Where is Arkansas Post National Memorial?
8 mi. SE of Gillett on AR 1 and 169, Gillett vicinity, Arkansas, Arkansas. The nearest national park unit is Arkansas Post National Memorial, 3 miles away.
Source: Arkansas Post National Memorial
What does the Arkansas Post National Memorial listing include?
The listing counts 6 contributing resources. Those are 6 structures. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there campgrounds near Arkansas Post National Memorial?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Pendleton Bend, 2 miles away. Notrebes Bend Park is 3 miles away, and Wilbur D. Mills is 4 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there a wildfire near Arkansas Post National Memorial right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Monroe 296, 32 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000198. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.