November 14, 1997

A second unit, consisting of 360 acres and known as the Osotowy Unit, was added to Arkansas Post National Memorial site near Gillett in Arkansas County. Arkansas Post is the place where the first permanent European colony in the Mississippi River Valley was established, and it served as the capital of the territory for a time. The first unit, the Memorial Unit, comprises 389 acres and has a visitor center with a museum and theater, as well as 2.5 miles of paved trails. The museum displays exhibits on archaeological finds at the park, the Civil War battle fought in the area, and other aspects of the history of Arkansas Post. The second unit, not open to the public, contains the Quapaw village of Osotowy, the Menard-Hodges archaeological site, and possibly the site of the first post, which was moved several times because of flooding.