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Prairie Grove Holly April Houser Edwards, historical park interpreter at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, lead a battlefield tour in 2016 during a cannon- firing demonstration at the park. Photo courtesy of FLIP PUTTHOFF NWA Democrat-Gazette Students peered into the Latta House. A group of about 80 students, aged 6 through 12, from Pine Crest Private School in Bentonville were touring the park in 2016. Photo courtesy of JASON IVESTER NWA Democrat-Gazette e park hosts Arkansas' largest battle reenactment biennially in even- numbered years during the first weekend of December. Activities include guided tours through Union, Confederate and civilian camps; military drills conducted by reenactors; cooking, spinning and lace-making demonstrations; and living history programs. Beginning at 1 p.m. each day, battle demonstrations feature charges and counterattacks by Union and Confederate infantry and cavalry on the actual battlefield near the historic Borden House. Geocache Tour Enjoy this self-guided, 15-point virtual cache tour of the park grounds. Total walking distance is just over one mile. is tour may take 45 minutes to two hours to complete, depending on your experience level with geocaching. By policy, geocaches may only be placed by park employees at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. Driving Tour (self-guided) Explore the Prairie Grove grounds from your vehicle during a five-mile driving tour. You may purchase an audio tour on compact disc. e 55-minute CD leads you through 14 stops along the tour. It contains a narrator providing a description of events, and directions to each stop which are also marked by signs. Other voices reading material from historical papers such as letters represent soldiers or settlers who lived through the battle. Contact the park visitor center for details. Battlefield Guided Walking Tour Take a walk along the Prairie Grove ridge from the Latta Barn to the Borden House, where the heaviest local fighting occurred during the Civil War. A guide will offer details of the conflict, point out where significant events happened, and answer questions along the way. Daily guided tours are offered beginning at Hindman Hall Museum, and each lasts about an hour. You may also opt to take a self-guided walking or driving tour. Historic House Guided Tour Every day that the park is open, you can enjoy a guided tour along the historic Morrow and Latta houses. Daily guided tours are offered beginning at Hindman Hall Museum, and each lasts about an hour. e Morrow House was a Confederate headquarters prior to the Civil War battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. e Latta House belonged to John and Jane Latta, who arrived in Arkansas Territory in 1834 and raised 12 children. Photo courtesy of Andy Shupe NWA Democrat-Gazette 10 – 2018 West Washington County Directory