Marking The Way Into New Territory

Welcome Back!

It has been a few weeks since I last posted. In this post, I want to highlight one of Arkansas’ historical state parks, the Louisiana Purchase State Park.

Hopefully in school you studied about the Louisiana Purchase; however, if not it was the purchase of land in the Louisiana Territory from France. President Thomas Jefferson authorized the purchase in 1803 for $15 million dollars. Jefferson in doing so doubled the size of the United States. Fast forward to October 27, 1815, by orders of President James Madison, a survey party started the task of laying out the land. This land would become 13 U.S. states, including Arkansas.

The monument that you can view at the park was placed in 1926, which marks the initial point of the survey for both the baseline and meridian lines.

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If you visit, you will walk across a headwater swamp. According, to the Arkansas State Parks, these swamps were a commonly across the eastern portion of the state.

You may find out more about the state park online here.

Until next time,
Jason

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