Louisiana Purchase State Park

This park preserves and protects two of Arkansas's greatest heritages: The "initial point" of the 1815 Louisiana Territory land survey and one of the state's few "headwater" swamps. The elevated boardwalk allows for safe viewing of the parks fascinating swamp life and leads to the granite monument which marks the "initial point" of the survey.

Park History

While checking the Phillips and Lee County lines in 1921, surveyors discovered "witness" trees marked during the 1815 survey. The L'Anguille Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (Marianna, Arkansas) quickly recognized the historical significance of this find and on October 27, 1926, dedicated the commemorative monument seen today. The site was designated Louisiana Purchase State Park in 1961.

Initial development of the park was made possible with the aid of local citizenery groups through the Green Thumb Program. In 1977, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, recognizing the swamp's unique qualities added it to the registery of Natural Areas and supplied funds for purchasing 37.5 acres. Arkansas State Parks has since developed the park and together they preserve it for generations to come.

The Purchase 1801 - 1803

President Thomas Jefferson learned Spain had ceded the Louisiana Territory back to France in early 1801. Fearing Napoleon would close the Mississippi to American trade, the President sent Ambassador Robert Livingston to Paris (September 1801) to warn France the United States would not tolerate a loss of its trade outlet or American colonies.

In 1802, as Napoleon readied to occupy New Orleans with military troops, President Jefferson dispatched Pierre du Pont de Nemours to France to inform the French the United States would form a military alliance with England should they annex Louisiana. With the growing threat of French occupation, the President then sent James Monroe to Paris with the authorization to purchase the port of New Orleans and West Florida for $9,375,000.

Monroe and Livingston were instructed to 1) negotiate a peaceful settlement; and 2) if France resisted, form and immediate alliance with England. Considering Napoleon's views on world conquest, there seemed to be little chance of settlement. Suddenly, on April 11, 1803, Napoleon announced his plans to cede the entire Territory to the United States.

By April 30, 1803, a treaty binding the United States to the purchase of the entire 830,000 square mile area for $15,000,000 was signed. At less than three cents per acre, the Louisiana purchase must be considered the greatest real estate deal of all time. This happening shaped the destiny of the United States, ended Napoleon's dreams of a French empire and confirmed Spain's fears of America's westward expansion.