Recognized nationally as one of America’s most intact Civil War battlefields, Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park conserves the site where, on December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier in a fierce fight that marked the last major Civil War engagement in northwest Arkansas. When the day was done, 2,700 soldiers had died.

The Union victory in that battle enabled federal troops to retain control of northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri.

Our Role

From day one, we’ve worked to protect the places where American history was made. At Prairie Grove, we used our Battlefield Revolving Fund, established with grants from the Gilder Foundation, to purchase land that overlooks the battlefield from the location of the Confederate line. We held the parcel until the state of Arkansas had the funding to purchase it and add it to Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.

Why This Project Matters

There are a total of 384 principal Civil War battlefields, as designated by the federal government’s Civil War Sites Advisory Commission. Many remain unprotected — and many are threatened by development. Working with partners in the public and private sectors, The Conservation Fund has been able to protect land at 83 battlefields in 14 states to honor those who fought and died in the war. Our Civil War Battlefield Campaign enables us to conserve the sacred ground where these key battles took place.

Learn More

• Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park