Marks' Mills State Park

Mark’s Mill Battlefield State Park is a historic park off Highway 97 in Fordyce, Arkansas. The park site is famous for its role in the Civil War when General Frederick Steele retreated back to Little Rock, Arkansas after Confederate Calvary captured a Union supply train en route to relieve Steele’s troops. Today, visiting Mark’s Mill State Park is an adventure rich in history and nature.

Historic activities

Visit Mark’s Mill and step back into history. While hiking through the park’s nature trails, visit with Edgar Colvin and Sue Marks Colvin for a presentation of battle exhibits and monuments. The Marks family homestead and cemetery are a hop, skip and a jump down the road from the park, as is the historic battle site, where you can witness the very grounds where General Steele retreated from the Confederates.

Monuments

The monuments erected throughout Mark’s Mill tell the story of the entire battle, from start to finish. Artifacts are set up all around the trail path with plaque descriptions for each. Bring your camera along to capture the history that surrounds you. The area also boasts the first road cut through Cleveland County in 1834.

Cemetery

Many brave men were killed in the battle of Mark’s Mill. A collective gravestone is erected near the cemetery with the names of these courageous Civil War soldiers carved into the stone. Four unknown soldiers’ graves join the monument in the tribute to the battle these men endured.

Visiting

Mark’s Mill is open year-round to visitors. The hours of operation are 8 am until dusk. Campsites are located all around Cleveland County, so you have easy access to visiting the battlefield on more than one day.

Visit Mark’s Mill Battlefield Park for more than just a history lesson. Witness the natural beauty surrounding the park grounds and enjoy the fresh air of Arkansas. Experience an adventure through time in this wonderfully informative state park.