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Arkansas Heritage Trails System facts for kids

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Trail of Tears sign Shearerville 2012-04-01 012.jpg
Highway shield for Trail of Tears
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System information
Formed: March 31, 2009 (2009-03-31)
Highway names
Interstates: Interstate nn (I-nn)
US Routes: US Highway nn (US nn)
State: AR nn, Ark. nn, Hwy. nn
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Arkansas Highway System
Interstates • US • State
Business • Spurs • Scenic

The Arkansas Heritage Trails System is a special group of four historic trails in Arkansas. These trails help us remember important events and journeys from the past.

The system was created by the Arkansas General Assembly on March 31, 2009. The trails include roads managed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) and also county roads. Different state departments work together to manage these trails. This includes the Arkansas Department of Heritage, the Department of Parks and Tourism, and the Department of Transportation.

Butterfield Trail

The Butterfield Trail was once a very important route. It was used for mail and passenger coaches. This trail connected places like Memphis and Fort Smith. It even had two different paths through Little Rock. This trail helped people and mail travel across the country long ago.

Southwest Trail

The Southwest Trail is another historic path in Arkansas. It was used by early settlers and Native Americans. This trail helped people move and explore the land. It played a role in the early history of the region.

Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears is a very sad but important part of history. It marks the paths where Native American tribes were forced to move from their homes. This happened in the 1830s. They had to leave their lands in the southeastern United States. They traveled west to Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma.

Many different routes were part of this forced journey. These included the Bell, Benge, and Northern Routes. Other routes were used by the Seminole, Chickasaw, Muscogee, and Choctaw tribes. The Trail of Tears reminds us of a difficult time in American history. It shows the struggles faced by Native American peoples.

Civil War Trail

The Civil War Trail highlights important places and routes from the American Civil War in Arkansas. This trail helps us understand the battles and movements of soldiers. It shows how the war affected the state.

The trail includes routes related to major events. These include the Camden Expedition and the Little Rock Campaign. It also covers movements around battles like Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. These routes help us learn about the strategies and challenges of the war.

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