Explore Civil War History in Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, and Cane Hill, Arkansas
  • Half Day | 6 Stops
Historic Cane Hill

Explore Civil War History in Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, and Cane Hill, Arkansas

Half Day | 6 Stops

Explore one of the most important Civil War regions in Arkansas with this self-guided driving tour through Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, and Cane Hill. This route follows the path of the 1862 Prairie Grove Campaign, a defining moment in northwest Arkansas Civil War history.

Today, visitors can still walk historic battlefields, visit preserved cemeteries, and see Civil War-era buildings that bring this history to life.


Headquarters House

Stop 1: Headquarters House – Fayetteville Civil War Site

118 E. Dickson Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Start your Civil War tour in downtown Fayetteville at the Headquarters House, one of the most important historic homes in the region.

During the Civil War, this home served as the Union headquarters for Colonel M. LaRue Harrison. It was used as a command post while Union forces defended Fayetteville from Confederate attacks.

Visible battle damage, including bullet holes from fighting in 1863, remains on the structure today. This site offers one of the most direct connections to Civil War activity in Fayetteville, Arkansas.


Confederate Cemetery Fayetteville Arkansas

Stop 2: Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery

514 E. Rock Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas

This historic hillside cemetery is the burial place of Confederate soldiers who died in the surrounding campaigns, including the Battle of Prairie Grove.

The cemetery reflects the divided loyalties of northwest Arkansas during the Civil War. Many soldiers buried here were local men who fought and died close to home.

It is one of the most significant Confederate burial sites in Washington County, Arkansas.


Fayetteville National Cemetery

Stop 3: Fayetteville National Cemetery (Union Soldiers)

700 S. Government Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas

The Fayetteville National Cemetery honors Union soldiers who fought in the Prairie Grove Campaign and other Civil War battles in northwest Arkansas.

Established after the Civil War, this cemetery became the final resting place for Union troops whose remains were moved from battlefield graves across the region.

Together, the Confederate Cemetery and National Cemetery tell the full story of Civil War division in Fayetteville, Arkansas.


Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park 2

Stop 4: Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park – Major Civil War Battlefield

Prairie Grove, Arkansas (U.S. Highway 62)

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is one of the most important Civil War battlefields in Arkansas.

The Battle of Prairie Grove was fought on December 7, 1862, between Union forces under Generals James Blunt and Francis Herron and Confederate troops under General Thomas C. Hindman.

Although the battle ended without a clear winner, it secured Union control of northwest Arkansas and marked a turning point in the Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi region.

Today, visitors can explore preserved battlefield land, walking trails, interpretive signs, and a museum that explains the full story of the battle and campaign.


Historic Cane Hill Header

Stop 5: Cane Hill Battlefield – Early Prairie Grove Campaign Site

Cane Hill, Arkansas (near Highway 45)

The Cane Hill Battlefield is an essential part of understanding the Prairie Grove Campaign.

Fought on November 28, 1862, the Battle of Cane Hill was a running engagement that stretched across rural Washington County. Union forces pushed Confederate troops south, directly setting up the Battle of Prairie Grove just days later.

This site shows how movement and strategy shaped Civil War battles in northwest Arkansas.


Cane Hill Cemetery

Stop 6: Cane Hill Cemetery – Civil War Burial Site

County Road 13, Cane Hill, Arkansas

End your tour at Cane Hill Cemetery, a historic burial ground containing graves from the Civil War era.

Many early settlers and soldiers from the Cane Hill engagement are buried here. The cemetery connects the battlefield history of the area with the local families who lived through the war.

It provides a quiet and meaningful final stop on this Civil War driving tour.


Why This Civil War Tour Matters

This Prairie Grove Campaign driving tour is one of the best ways to experience Civil War history in Arkansas. It connects:

  • Historic homes in Fayetteville
  • Confederate and Union cemeteries
  • Two major Civil War battlefields
  • A preserved 1862 campaign route

It is ideal for history tourists, Civil War enthusiasts, road trippers, and anyone searching for things to do in northwest Arkansas.

Visitor’s Guide

Check out our Fayetteville Visitor’s Guide full of insider tips and guides to hotels, dining, entertainment, the arts, and more

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