Arkansas/Oklahoma State Line -- Talimena National Scenic Byway, Polk Co. AR
N 34° 41.641 W 094° 27.335
15S E 366677 N 3840075
A favorite stop along the Talimena Scenic Byway is this historic border area, the site of much controversy in the 19th century
Waymark Code: WMX7BC
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 12/07/2017
Views: 0
In 1877 the US government undertook a survey to mark the border between the United States (Arkansas) and the various Indian tribes that had been assigned lands in Indian Territory, which was not officially part of the US, Indian Territory being sovereign tribal lands given the tribes by the US government after they were forcibly removed by the Government in the 1830s, a shameful episode now known as the Trail of Tears.
A sign at the modern monument reads as follows:
"ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA STATE LINE
A much disputed boundary
[photo of the old milepost]
At the end of this short path the 48 milepost marks the historic Arkansas-Choctaw nation boundary.
From the time of the first treaty with Choctaws 1820, the eastern boundary of the Choctaw nation in Indian territory has been disputed. Today, legal battles for the boundary still persist.
The marker at the end of this trail was placed in 1877. During the survey of 1877, it was confirmed that the original 1825 Conway survey located the boundary too far to the west -- favoring Arkansas. Despite the error, the trail marker was posted preserving the line as a permanent boundary. Only after many years of negotiating with the Choctaws be compensated for the loss of over 136,000 acres."
Group that erected the marker: National Park Service
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
OK-AR state line
Talimena Scenic DriveAR
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Visit Instructions:
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