Arkansas Post National Memorial ⓘ

The American yellow lotus is the only lotus native to the United States . American lotus is a perennial aquatic herb with spongy, long, cylindrical rhizomes that produce tubers during the fall months. Leaf stalks are long, supporting leaves that are both floating and standing above the water surface. Leaves above the water tend to be elevated outward from the center and appearing funnel-like. Flowers are solitary, showy, on long stalks, frequently overtopping the leaves. The petals are numerous and yellow.

The American lotus produces the largest flower of any plant in North America and occurs in quiet waters in ponds, lakes and the edges of slow moving streams and rivers from Iowa to New York and south to Oklahoma , East Texas and Florida .

A number of common names, many of native American origin, are used to identify this species. Among them are: American lotus, yellow lotus, water-chinquapin, duck acorn, lotus lily, yellow Nelumbo, yanquapin, wonkapin, and pond nuts. In the Arkansas Post area, the common name of yancopin is most commonly used; in fact, a nearby community on the Arkansas River is named Yancopin.

Bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum ) is referred to as the "tree with knees". This tree is found in the wetlands of Arkansas but ranges from Delaware to Florida and west to Texas and Missouri. It is found where the water is strong with lime. They grow to 150 feet in height and trunk can be 12 feet in diameter at its base. It is a non-evergreen tree and its leaves appear feather-like. They can grow to be 800 years old. Cypress knees are oval to cylindrical and can be several feet in length.

Pecan ( Carya illinoensis ) is a deciduous tree. There are several different pecans varieties. This tree is known as a swamp hickory or southern hickory tree. It likes rich low bottomland river bottoms. It can grow to 150 feet in height and is the tallest of hickories. The trunk diameter at base can be five to six feet in diameter. It ranges from Indiana to Georgia and Alabama to Texas and Kansas. It has 9-17 lanceolate leaflets. The nut is smooth with a sweet seed. The outer shell separates into four "wings". Today, pecan trees are cultivated especially for their nutty edible fruit. The wood is very brittle.

Osage orange ( Maclura pomifera ) is also referred to as bois d' arc or hedge apple. It can grow to a height of sixty feet. Trunk diameter at the base can be three feet. It can live from 100 to 200 years of age. It is a deciduous tree. It is distinct in its hard orange wood and stiff spine-like twigs. It has alternate leaves. It often produces green grapefruit size fruits. It is the hardest of all native hardwoods. Native Americans used to make bows. Historically, in Arkansas a good Osage bow was worth a horse and a blanket according to the Fieldbook of Natural History . Its hard wood makes it popular for fence posts. Osage orange trees like rich moist soils and river valleys. This was the first tree sample that Louis and Clark sent back to Washington DC in 1804 according to Trees of Ohio. Thomas Nuttall who visited Arkansas Post was the first to give its scientific name.

Up to a few years ago, Arkansas Post National Memorial had the largest Osage orange tree in Arkansas, but due to storms and old age the tree's limbs have broken off reducing its girth and it has since lost its champion status. But you can still see it proudly standing today near the park's visitor center.

Sweet Gum ( Liquidambar styraciflua ) is also known as Bilsted. This deciduous tree can grow up to 140 feet in height. Its trunk can have a maximum diameter of five feet. It often has rough bark. This tree's leaves appear "star-shaped" with five points. Sweet Gums can live to 150 years. They are found in low woodlands from Connecticut to Florida and can be found west to Missouri and Illinois and into Mexico. They like an abundance of water and grows in the lower Mississippi region were the river floods. It is found in swampy areas. Another characteristic of this tree is that it produces a small seed ball with spiny projections, Sweet Gum seeds are a popular food source for Gray Squirrels, Chipmunks, Marsh Rabbits., Wild Turkeys and Bobwhites. Its name also reveals it resinous nature. Its resin has been used to make gum, soap, and adhesives.

Once prized for its valuable hide, the American Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) was nearly hunted to extinction. Fortunately, alligator populations in Arkansas have increased following twenty years of protection under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The waters of Arkansas Post National Memorial provide valuable habitat to over a dozen alligators, some of which are fourteen feet in length.

Alligators will eat just about anything that gets close enough. Soon after alligators emerge from their eggs they begin to look for food. Young gators normally eat insects, snails, frogs, and small fish. As the gator grows, it adds larger animals to the menu. An adult alligator’s diet typically includes frogs, birds, turtles, snakes, fish, and the occasional smaller gator that gets too close. The alligators of Arkansas Post are large enough that they will eat raccoons, nutria, muskrat, and even a deer. Better keep that dog on a leash!

Female alligators normally lay between 25 and 60 eggs in late Spring. An alligator uses its large claws to dig a nest where the eggs will incubate for 2 - 3 months. While she is waiting for the eggs to hatch, the mother stays near the nest to protect it. Once the eggs hatch, she will continue to protect her young until they become large enough to protect themselves from predators such as birds, racoons, and large fish.

The American Alligator is often confused with its cousin the American Crocodile. If you look closely (but not too close!) you can see that the crocodile’s snout is pointed. The alligator has a rounded or “bulbous” snout. Another clue to telling them apart is to look at the tail. A crocodile’s tail has pointed ridges that are larger than those of the alligator. There are no crocodiles in Arkansas, although they are making a come-back in Southern Florida .

Visitor Center and Museum Visitors are invited to view the park movie - "Arkansas Post: Echoes of the Past" and explore museum exhibits reflecting over three hundred years of human history at Arkansas Post. This twenty minute feature is available upon request daily from 8:30 a.m. with the last movie to begin at 4:30 p.m. Paved and Unpaved Trails Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and tranquility of over three miles of trails winding through the "historic town site" and a hardwood forest. Tours Guided tours may be available for groups, however, reservations are required. Bus parking is available at the visitor center. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the town site and nature trails. Fishing Fishing is allowed in all the waters in and around the park; however, an Arkansas fishing license is required for individuals 16 years of age and older. Junior Rangers A Junior Ranger program is available for children ages 6 - 12. School Groups On-site and off-site school programs are available upon request.

On-site and off-site school programs are available upon request. To schedule a class trip to Arkansas Post National Memorial or to have a Ranger visit your class, please call (870) 548-2207.