Desha County: History, Nature, and Trails in Arkansas

Desha County in Arkansas combines historic sites of remembrance with wildlife observation, long trails, and regional products. The history of Rohwer is particularly influential, while the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, the Delta Heritage Trail, and fishing opportunities in the Dumas area offer other travel highlights. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, travelers can therefore first decide whether history, nature, outdoor activity, or local products should be the focus of their trip.

Experiencing History in Rohwer and McGehee

The Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery in Desha County, Arkansas, is one of only three surviving cemeteries of former Japanese American internment sites in the United States. Japanese Americans who were incarcerated in Rohwer from 1942 to 1945 designed and built the cemetery. Visitors can take a self-guided tour along the southern boundary of the original camp. At the site of the Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center, there is also an audio tour narrated by George Takei.

The WWII Japanese American Internment Museum offers another historical perspective. It is located in the renovated southern building of the McGehee Railroad Depot. The interpretive exhibit explores the history of the nearby Rohwer and Jerome sites, where U.S. government internment camps housed more than 17,000 Japanese Americans. A traditional Japanese garden is located behind the museum building. For families who want to explore historical topics together, this creates an itinerary with different ways of engaging with the past: the tour, audio tour, exhibit, and garden complement one another without all the experiences having the same character.

Wildlife, Trails, and Rules for Active Days

The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge also extends across Desha County. The Wildlife Drive provides access to an observation tower for wildlife viewing. The refuge has hundreds of miles of trails open to foot traffic. ATVs are permitted where the trails are identified by yellow markings on the trees. These different usage rules should be taken into account when planning a day in the refuge.

In the Dumas area, fishing opportunities are available at lakes, bayous, and the Arkansas River. At the Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA/Deer Research Area West Unit, all users are required to have a valid hunting or fishing license or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit. Those who want to combine wildlife viewing, hiking, or fishing can take these requirements and their preferred activity into account when planning their itinerary.

Recreational Trail, Townscapes, and Regional Products

The Delta Heritage Trail is a former railroad corridor converted into a recreational trail. Its southern corridor runs 32.4 miles from Yancopin to Arkansas City. Trail access points are available in Watson, Rohwer, and Arkansas City. Those planning a longer route will find a clearly defined corridor here; individual places along the trail can also be treated as destinations in their own right.

In Arkansas City, the Commercial District represents the town's historical development: it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 18, 1999. The Desha County Courthouse features a four-story clock tower, round arches, and decorative brick patterns. John H. Johnson Day takes place every year in November, adding a recurring date to the annual calendar alongside the historical impressions.

Craftsmanship and agriculture are also part of the region's character. Miller's Mud Mill produces finely wheel-thrown contemporary ceramic art, which is sold to retail customers from a studio in the Brookhaven Shopping Center in Dumas. At Esau Farms, freshly harvested sweet corn can be ordered for farm pickup beginning May 15 each year. Esau’s Home-Grown Sweet Corn was established in 1990 in Desha County near Dumas as a family business.

Which Accommodation Fits Your Travel Plans?

When searching for accommodation, it is worth considering the focus of your trip. For a culture-oriented trip, Rohwer, the museum, the cemetery, and the historic buildings may be the most important anchor points. Those who prefer spending time outdoors can focus on the refuge, the Delta Heritage Trail, or the fishing opportunities in the Dumas area. Families with different interests can spread these priorities over several days instead of combining all activities into a single route.

Another destination in the overview can be accessed via McGehee. Additional orientation is provided by Randolph County, Crawford, Dallas County, Sevier County, Chicot County, Arkansas County, and Clark County.

For the overarching travel overview: Arkansas.