President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act of 1830 is one of the darkest chapters of American history. Over that decade, approximately 15,00 Choctaws, 7,000 Chickasaws, 21,00 Muscogees (Creek), 16,000 Cherokees, and 4,000 Seminoles were removed from their ancestral homes by the U.S. government, which claimed their lands for itself. These peoples were forced to travel over 2,000 miles westward on foot, and many died from exposure to harsh winter weather, cholera & other diseases, starvation, and exhaustion on the way. The routes along which they made this sorrowful "Long Walk" came to be known as the Trail of Tears. It passed through Little Rock, Arkansas at this precise location.
UALR took the initiative to acknowledge the injustices suffered by these Native Americans and honor their memory by rehabilitating a crumbling corner of the city adjacent to its campus and turning it into a commemorative park, completed & dedicated in 2011. In the same spot beside Coleman Creek where weary tribespeople once paused on their brutal journey, you can now enjoy a peaceful green space planted with indigenous trees, grasses, and wildflowers. Standing plaques provide information about the significance of the site, and benches arranged around a circular lawn invite a few quiet moments of reflection.
There is plenty of public parking within a few minutes' walk of GZ. Muggle traffic may be high at times, so please use stealth when necessary.
NOTE: Students often walk through this area, so drive carefully. No more tears on this trail.
*FTF congrats go to UALR alumni St. & Rock on this one!*