Posted in Arkansas
January 06, 2020
9 Rare Photos Taken During Construction Of Arkansas’ State Parks That Will Simply Astound You
The timeless structures within Arkansas’ state parks have delighted generations of nature lovers. It’s hard to imagine a time without these landmarks! Let’s look back to the very beginning of these first parks, starting with the oldest Arkansas state park — Petit Jean.
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This photo would have been taken around 1907. Dr. T.W. Hardison worked for the Fort Smith Lumber Company which had land holdings on Petit Jean Mountain at the time. After realizing the land around the mountain's seven hollows would be too expensive to mine, Dr. Hardison spearheaded the campaign to deed the mountain to the federal government. Petit Jean State Park was officially established in 1923.
We owe our wonderful state parks to the hard work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. This work relief program created by Roosevelt brought in 77 companies to work on 106 Arkansas forestry conservation projects.
This photo is of the CCC camp 1781-V in 1933, before the mountain had any trails! Construction for Arkansas' first state park began on July 16th, 1933.
This photo is of the CCC camp 1781-V in 1933, before the mountain had any trails! Construction for Arkansas' first state park began on July 16th, 1933.
By 1934 the CCC was still in the early stages of the state park's construction. The majority of the work lasted up until 1941! Here the workers are erecting the dining room of the Mather Lodge. This was the only lodge the CCC ever built in Arkansas. The lodge was named for Stephen Mather, the director of the National Park Service. He worked with Dr. Hardison in campaigning for the state park's creation.
Petit Jean's beloved trails were new features in the 1930s. One of the first trails to be forged was Cedar Falls Trail. It was later designated as a National Historic District. Nearly all of the CCC buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Devil's Den has been recognized as one of the well-preserved CCC park developments in the United States. Here's an early shot of the crew working in 1934.
Construction didn't wrap up until 1942, after the CCC was demobilized. Despite losing buildings to poor maintenance (lack of funding) and fire, Devil's Den is one of the most completed state parks in the country.
The CCC was able to work on this area after the founder of the Arkansas Power and Light Company, Harvey Couch, donated his acres around Lake Catherine.This is one of the nearly-completed cabins photographed around 1935.
Crowley's Ridge is our 5th oldest state park but because of dedication dates is the 4th of Arkansas' state parks . All of the CCC's construction utilized native log and stone to the area. Here's an early shot of the park taken in 1935.
This is an early photo of the park's pavilion. Crowley's Ridge State Park was officially dedicated in 1937 but had already had over 8,000 visitors beginning in 1935.
Do you have any family ties to the CCC history in Arkansas? Share your story with us in the comments below! You can always share your state park adventures with us in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
Delve into Arkansas’ forgotten state park for more interesting history.
Address: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, USA
Address: 120812 W Devils Den Rd, Winslow, AR 72959, USA
Address: 2092 AR-168 North, Paragould, AR 72450, USA
Address: 1200 Catherine Park Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
