Arkansas Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears refers to the forced removal of Native American tribes from their lands in the Southeast and South to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). This event took place between 1830 and 1850.

The government of the United States used the Indian Removal Act as a legal impetus for the forced relocation of many of the indigenous peoples to Oklahoma and other western areas. Most of the displaced tribes signed treaties with the government before they were relocated.

Thousands of Native Americans died in this process. Several hundred people died of starvation, exposure and disease in the months before they reached their destination.

While this forced movement to Oklahoma was primarily done by Cherokees, other tribes from the Southeast and South were also relocated. These included the Muscogee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Ponca nations.

They walked, rode or paddled across the country to Indian Territory. They were resettled on reservations in the western regions of the state.

This forced movement of the Cherokee, as well as other tribes, to lands west of the Mississippi River is commemorated by a national park in Arkansas. In addition, a series of road segments are recognized by markers and interpretive signs.

There are still many unanswered questions about this historical event. But new research is helping to identify routes, locations and events.

In Arkansas, a number of the road segments that were part of the Trail of Tears have been identified and are now considered historical sites. Using old maps and modern technology, researchers are locating surviving roads that once connected the various towns along the trail and adding them to the National Register of Historic Places.

The route from Springfield to Fayetteville, where the Elkhorn Tavern was located near Pea Ridge, is one of the most well-known sections of the Trail of Tears. In the past few years, several new interpretive markers have been placed at this location and at other places along the trial.

These markers recognize specific road segments and the people who traveled them. They are an important part of the trail’s heritage and are a reminder of the struggle of the Native Americans in the 1800’s to remain a part of America.

Other road segments are not as easy to find and some have been lost to time, but there are a few that are being preserved by the government and local historians. Some of the most popular places along the trail include Fort Gibson in northeast Oklahoma, the site of a fort that was built to defend Indian Territory from European invaders and which is open for visitors today; Mantle Rock, where Whitepath and Fly Smith were laid to rest; Wafford in southwest Missouri, where Worn-Out Blanket lies in a grave; and Kituwah, the Cherokee home town, which is a sacred site of great cultural and historical importance.

The story of the Trail of Tears is not only a tragedy, but also a lesson in survival and tenacity. It is a testament to the resilience of the peoples of the nation and a reminder that Native American culture, traditions and language are still very much a part of our society.