Bluegills, channel catfish, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, crappie, redear sunfish, and bream live in Lake Chicot. The Battle of Old River Lake took place on the lake’s south shore on June 6, 1864. Nature and history thus emerge from two distinct perspectives: one concerns the species in the lake, the other a dated event of the Civil War.
Lakeport: History and Architecture
Through exhibits and tours, the Lakeport Plantation Museum presents the history of slavery, sharecropping, and the Johnson family. You can choose between guided and self-guided tours: one format is led by a guide, while the other lets you explore on your own. This allows you to choose how to approach the topics based on your preferred type of tour. The museum is also an interpretive center on the Great River Road All-American Road.
Architectural history offers another perspective: Lakeport Plantation preserves many of its original architectural features. Together, the surviving architecture and the museum’s historical themes offer different perspectives on the plantation’s past.
Historic Sites and Their Context
The Lake Village Commercial Historic District includes 39 buildings and one monument. Four of its resources had previously been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Chicot County Courthouse is also listed there: it was added in 2006. The building dates to the 1950s, is in the Art Deco style, and displays many features of the Corporate or Government Modern style. Its construction date and its listing in the register are two distinct points in time.
At Davies Cemetery, the graves offer insight into a distinctive construction method: the thirteen marked graves sit slightly above ground level and are made of brick and mortar. The area’s flood risk is given as the reason for this design.
Sunnyside and Immigration History
In Arkansas, Sunnyside Plantation was the state’s largest Catholic colony of newly arrived immigrants during the 1890s and early 1900s. The first group of more than 500 Italian Catholics arrived at Sunnyside Plantation in December 1895. For five years, Ruspoli and Corbin organized the annual immigration of 100 Italian families there.
Lake Village and Practical Information
The mural in the Lake Village Post Office depicts wildlife typical of the area around Lake Chicot and the town of Lake Village. Present-day life is also part of the town’s picture: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church remains active in Lake Village.
Chicot County Park offers RV sites, camping areas, picnic facilities, a covered pavilion, and swimming areas. If you plan to make use of these facilities, check their current status before your visit. The Lake Village Welcome Center provides visitors with up-to-date information about attractions, regional events, and weather conditions. The county’s offerings thus include both points of historical interest and information about nature, recreation, and contemporary life.
Discover more destinations: Lake Village, Union County, Polk County, Hot Spring County, Jefferson County, Poinsett County, Benton, Conway County.
For the broader travel overview: Arkansas.
