If you hear the sounds of cannons firing in Helena-West Helena Saturday morning your ears are not deceiving you. It will be part of the ceremonies unveiling a master plan to promote the city’s Civil War heritage. It all begins with the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. at the future site of Freedom Park, just across from Estevan Hall.
Mudpuppy and Waterdog Inc., a Versailles Ky. Firm, created the plan that incorporates the interpretation of 29 Civil War sites in Phillips County.
Civic leaders have planned a day of activities around the announcement of the interpretative plan. All are free and open to the public.
The proposed Freedom Park will be located at 640 Biscoe and will feature five major exhibits explaining the role of African Americans in Civil War Helena. The 12th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery of Camp Nelson, Ky. and Bankhead’s Battery, Company B, 1st Tennessee Light Artillery Regiment, CSA of Memphis will participate in the festivities.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the two artillery units will fire canons every 30 minutes from the Mississippi River levee and the Freedom park site.
From 9:30 to 11 a.m., two historic Civil War homes – Estevan Hall and the Moore-Hornor House – will be open to the public for the first time. Estevan Hall, 653 S. Biscoe St., was built in the 1820s and used by the Union Army during the occupation of Helena. The Moore-Hornor House, 323 Beech St., was built in 1859 and played a major part in the Battle of Helena. The backyard of the home became a battlefield.
Beginning at 11 a.m., Joe and Maria Brent of Mudpuppy and Waterdog Inc. will officially present the interpretive plan. Mark Christ of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will immediately follow with the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission’s plans for 2011. Robert L. Bell, vice president of the U.S. Colored Troops Living History Association and member of the Reactivated 12th Regiment: U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, will address the role of black American soldiers in the Battle of Helena.
All presentations will be held at the Malco Theater.
At noon, Jack Myers Delta Cultural Center
education coordinator will make a presentation about the gunboat USS Tyler at the DCC’s Visitor Center on Cherry Street.
The day’s activities will end with the opportunity to visit Helena’s other Civil War-related attractions including:
The Confederate Cemetery. Located within the Maple Hill Cemetery on North Holly Street, the cemetery was established in 1869 and became the final resting place for many Confederate soldiers who died or fought in the Battle of Helena. Major General Patrick Cleburne is buried there.
Helena’s Battery D where the remains of six Confederate soldiers were unearthed in 2004. The soldiers are believed to be members of General James F. Fagan’s division.
The Helena Museum has several civil War-related artifacts including the bullet that mortally wounded General Thomas Hindman in 1868 and detailed diorama of the Battle of Helena.
The Delta Cultural Center Depot’s second floor is dedicated to Helena and Phillips County’s Civil War history. It includes photos and detailed maps of the Battle of Helena.
Tours of the cemetery will be conducted until 4 p.m. The Cultural Center will be open until 5 p.m.
For more information about the July 18 Civil war activities, visit
www.deltaculturalcenter.com/calendar or contact the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce at 870-338-8327.
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If you hear the sounds of cannons firing in Helena-West Helena Saturday morning your ears are not deceiving you. It will be part of the ceremonies unveiling a master plan to promote the city’s Civil War heritage. It all begins with the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. at the future site of Freedom Park, just across from Estevan Hall.
Mudpuppy and Waterdog Inc., a Versailles Ky. Firm, created the plan that incorporates the interpretation of 29 Civil War sites in Phillips County.
Civic leaders have planned a day of activities around the announcement of the interpretative plan. All are free and open to the public.
The proposed Freedom Park will be located at 640 Biscoe and will feature five major exhibits explaining the role of African Americans in Civil War Helena. The 12th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery of Camp Nelson, Ky. and Bankhead’s Battery, Company B, 1st Tennessee Light Artillery Regiment, CSA of Memphis will participate in the festivities.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the two artillery units will fire canons every 30 minutes from the Mississippi River levee and the Freedom park site.
From 9:30 to 11 a.m., two historic Civil War homes – Estevan Hall and the Moore-Hornor House – will be open to the public for the first time. Estevan Hall, 653 S. Biscoe St., was built in the 1820s and used by the Union Army during the occupation of Helena. The Moore-Hornor House, 323 Beech St., was built in 1859 and played a major part in the Battle of Helena. The backyard of the home became a battlefield.
Beginning at 11 a.m., Joe and Maria Brent of Mudpuppy and Waterdog Inc. will officially present the interpretive plan. Mark Christ of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will immediately follow with the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission’s plans for 2011. Robert L. Bell, vice president of the U.S. Colored Troops Living History Association and member of the Reactivated 12th Regiment: U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, will address the role of black American soldiers in the Battle of Helena.
All presentations will be held at the Malco Theater.
At noon, Jack Myers Delta Cultural Center
education coordinator will make a presentation about the gunboat USS Tyler at the DCC’s Visitor Center on Cherry Street.
The day’s activities will end with the opportunity to visit Helena’s other Civil War-related attractions including:
The Confederate Cemetery. Located within the Maple Hill Cemetery on North Holly Street, the cemetery was established in 1869 and became the final resting place for many Confederate soldiers who died or fought in the Battle of Helena. Major General Patrick Cleburne is buried there.
Helena’s Battery D where the remains of six Confederate soldiers were unearthed in 2004. The soldiers are believed to be members of General James F. Fagan’s division.
The Helena Museum has several civil War-related artifacts including the bullet that mortally wounded General Thomas Hindman in 1868 and detailed diorama of the Battle of Helena.
The Delta Cultural Center Depot’s second floor is dedicated to Helena and Phillips County’s Civil War history. It includes photos and detailed maps of the Battle of Helena.
Tours of the cemetery will be conducted until 4 p.m. The Cultural Center will be open until 5 p.m.
For more information about the July 18 Civil war activities, visit
www.deltaculturalcenter.com/calendar or contact the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce at 870-338-8327.
