Last updated: October 29, 2023
Place
Pendleton Bend Park
Photo/USACE
Quick Facts
Location:
426 Hwy 212 East, Dumas AR
Significance:
Pendleton Bend Park is on the Arkansas River just upstream from Arkansas Post National Memorial. Arkansas Post was the first stop in Arkansas for most of the detachments on the Water Route of the Trail of Tears.
MANAGED BY:
"A rough estimate of the probable cost of the water Detachment of Emigrant Cherokees, conducted by Capt. John Drew"
Located on the Arkansas River thousands of of Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Chickasaw passed by as they traveled on the river. From here, visitors are encouraged to consider the costs of the Trail of Tears. The exhibit looks at a document that lists the costs of moving the last detachment of Cherokee to Indian Territory on the Water Route. This one journey moved 230 people at today's cost of approximately $600,000. That's less than one percent of the Cherokee moved west. A separate cost to consider is lives - the Trail of Tears costs the Cherokee 4,000 lives.
Pendleton Bend Park is 289 miles by water from Indian Territory, the end of the Trail of Tears Water Route.
Site Information
Location (426 Hwy 212 East, Dumas AR )
Amenities
31 Class A Campsites, Restrooms/Showers, Picnic Sites/Group Shelters, Playground, Boat Launch, Sightseeing, ADA accessible
Safety Considerations
More Site Information
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
Trail of Tears: Arkansas River Water Route Itinerary
You can visit multiple Water Route sites on the Arkansas River by following the Trail of Tears: Arkansas River Water Route Itinerary. Each site features one aspect or story about the Cherokee and Creek experience traveling the Trail of Tears by water, highlighting the challenges and complexities that arose daily on the Arkansas River.