Fort Curtis - Phase 1 Construction

The Civil War Helena tourism initiative made significant progress in 2011. In addition to completing the Phase One construction of Fort Curtis, local partners solidified plans for Freedom Park, began work on the Civil War Helena website, and created more than a dozen additional interpretive panels.

Fort Curtis will be one of the key destination attractions for Civil War Helena, serving as the only replica fort of its kind in the region.  Phase One development included construction of the fort’s earthen walls, gun platforms, and sodding of the site. Phase Two development is slated for completion by this summer and will include an imitation well, flagpole, tents, replica guns, parking, and exterior lighting and landscaping.  

Freedom Park will serve as another destination attraction for Civil War Helena.  Plans were finalized for this self-guided interpretive park, which has already been designated as the first official Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site in Arkansas.   Both Freedom Park and Fort Curtis will be operated by the Delta Cultural Center.

The Helena Museum of Phillips County and Phillips County Library saw the installation of several Civil War interpretive panels. Additional signs, statues, and exhibits will be fabricated and installed throughout 2012.

Local tourism leaders are working to bring the key Civil War Helena attractions online by 2013, the year in which the State Sesquicentennial Commission will focus on the Battle of Helena.  The initiative is projected to attract 61,000 visitors by 2019, leading to the creation of at least 44 tourism-supported jobs.  Keep an eye out for new developments in and around the downtown in the coming months.

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 7th, 2012; 4:00 pm

Location: Delta Cultural Center, Visitor Center building, upstairs conference room

Description: The quarterly meeting of the Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life Goal Team led by Chair Paula Oliver

Date & Time: Wednesday, January 4th, 2011; 4:00 pm

Location: Delta Cultural Center, Visitor Center building, upstairs conference room

Description: The quarterly meeting of the Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life Goal Team led by Chair Paula Oliver

Date & Time: Monday, July 25th, 2011; 3:30 pm

Location: Southern Bancorp (Cherry St. branch) – upstairs conference room

Description: The quarterly meeting of the Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life Goal Team led by Chair Paula Oliver (Main Street Helena)

TRQ Goal Team Meeting Minutes for 7.25.2011 (.pdf)

This summer Civil War Helena (Tourism Goal 4), the 29-site tourism initiative focused on telling Helena’s unique Civil War story, will be ramping up with work on several key sites.

FORT CURTIS: Work began last week on Fort Curtis, the earthen-walled Union fort once located in the downtown. The fort will feature several cannons, one of which will be operational, and will allow visitors to walk through and explore its interior.  Located on Columbia Street at the former site of Jefferson Elementary School, this three-fourths replica of the original fort will occupy the entire block and will be the only reconstructed fort of its kind in the region. 

FREEDOM PARK:  Engineering and survey work is underway for Freedom Park, a four-acre site located on South Biscoe across from Estevan Hall. Freedom Park has been designated as the first Network to Freedom site in Arkansas, a National Park Service designation for key Underground Railroad sites across the nation.  The park will feature five major outdoor exhibits and is expected to be one of the major draws for the Civil War Helena initiative.  The exhibits will explore the African-American experience in Civil War Helena, following the journey from fugitive slave to Contraband to freedom and, for some, enlistment in the Union Army and participation in the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism released plans last month for a new multi-million dollar Arkansas Welcome Center in Helena (Tourism Goal 1, Action Step D).  The Welcome Center will be located at the current Super 7 Motel site at the foot of the Highway 49 Bridge.

The design for the center features a hilltop mansion in the “informal Italianate style,” and was inspired by architectural elements seen in many of Helena’s historic buildings. Inside, a series of display cases will highlight area attractions and a computer station will enable travelers to look up destination phone numbers and book last minute hotel rooms.  The plans for the center will go out for bid in December, with estimated completion in 2013.

Through an ongoing partnership between Main Street Helena and the Delta Bridge Project, citywide gateway and directional signs are being developed to guide visitors to destinations throughout the Helena area. This project (Tourism Goal 1, Action Step C) will support ongoing tourism development by highlighting our community’s assets, including the Delta Cultural Center, Helena Museum of Phillips County (formerly the Phillips County Museum), Helena River Park and the St. Francis National Forest.

A group of approximately 25 community stakeholders has helped develop and review the sign designs and location plan. MERJE, the design firm leading the project, has also incorporated the recommendations of the city’s 2010 Branding and Marketing Report. Phase one of the signage plan is targeted for installation in October of this year and will focus on directing visitors to destinations in the historic downtown.

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 25, 2011; 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location: Delta Cultural Center’s Delta Eagle Room

Description: The quarterly meeting of the Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life Goal Team led by Katie Harrington and Paula Oliver.

TRQ Goal Team Meeting Minutes for May 25, 2011 (.pdf)

To celebrate Earth Day, the Recycling Subcommittee of the Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life Goal Team helped spread the word about the City’s cardboard recycling program. A newspaper article was written promoting the program and explaining the process.  Also the City’s May water bills featured a recycling reminder.

Celebrate Earth Day in H-WH by Recycling (.pdf)