Visiting The OLD MILL in Little Rock Arkansas

TRAVEL TUESDAY

Today, I'd like to take you to a portion of Little Rock, Arkansas.  To T.R. Pugh Memorial Park, to visit and tour the Old Mill.

If you love the movie Gone With The Wind, the Old Mill was used during the opening scene in this classic film.  The Mill was designed specifically for the film, and so were the grounds around.  Tree stumps, toadstool sculptures and branch interwoven bridges.  

I actually visited in the month of March which is why the tree's are for a lack of leave.  But it was enchanting even before the place turns into full bloom.  So if you visit another time of year, you'll see lush greens, and beautiful flowers just about everywhere.
You can go inside the building and walk around all of the grounds as well.

The above picture is one of the fun log and branch bridges.  It looks smaller in the picture, but it is actually large enough you can walk right through it.  Well at least my 5 foot,4 inches could:)

It looks kind of creepy in this picture, but this is the underneath of one of the larger bridges.  I'm sure a different time of year has this creepy bridge looking quite magical covered in vines and such.

The other side of the road, there is a small lake and additional trails to explore.

Overall, it's not a place I would take a specific trip to see, but if you are in the area it's definitely worth checking out! They run the Little Rock Marathon in the spring there, which is what I was doing when I visited, so if you're a racer in the area, such a short little stop for something to do before or after the race!



IF YOU GO:

*  Little Rock Arkansas, T.R. Pugh Memorial Park is the destination.  (3800 Lakeshore Drive in North Little Rock Arkansas.) 
*  This can be used as a stop on a road trip, or a fun place to grab an afternoon picnic.
*  It's free to the public.
*  Little Rock also has a nice Marathon & Half Marathon in March if you want to add that to your trip and use the Old Mill as an afternoon excursion.

Toltec Mounds State Park, Arkansas

This week for Travel Tuesday I am going to introduce you to something different, something that many of you have probably never heard of or considered visiting.
Today's post will likely appeal more to those who enjoy American Ancient History as well as Native American Archaeological digs and sights.

Most people when they think of Native American Indian sites, think of Teepee's and Petroglyphs. Not a lot of people think about Indian Mounds, which is why I am showcasing this little visit I took and enjoyed while I was visiting Arkansas.

Unless your a historian, you probably wouldn't consider this place a vacation destination.  I personally don't either.  However, if your going to be in the area.  This is an interesting place to stretch your legs and visit and learn about.  It could take all of 30 minutes to an hour, it just depends on your walking speed really.  As the Plum Bayou trail around the area is about 1.6 miles long, but can be shortened if wanted.

Toltec Mounds State Park is actually one of the largest archaeological sites in the lower Mississippi Valley.  Originally their were 18 mounds but now because of erosion and farming only 3 remain.

What is an Indian Mound?
It's basically a mound of dirt, the highest right now at 49 feet.  Very possibly higher back in 650 to 1050 A.D. when they were built.

How were they built?  Back then they didn't have the tools we had, so they were built up from flat ground by hand, possibly pots or other ways to carry the dirt in, but all by hand nonetheless.

Why were they built?
Now depending on who you ask, they may have a different ideas of who the Indian's were who once occupied this land, and build the mounds.
After all, other than ancient texts which don't cover a whole lot, it's all really up for speculation.
Some will tell you for religious ceremonies, battle purposes, living residences, dances, games ect...

Well because this is my blog, I will just tell you my theory (so don't take it for anything other than that.)  I think it was likely all of the above.
They are in a lower valley, and low valley's flood.  So why not build up taller mounds to protect their homes and food from flood waters.  Or to create quick safe haven's to run to when possible flooding occurs.

People througout time do things for a purpose or just to do them.  Look at the crazy things we build now days ourselves.  So who knows really, but one thing for sure is.  If you are going to break your back to carry that much dirt and create tall mounds like that.  Your probably doing it for a purpose, and to me flooding would be an excellent purpose!

My guess is, these mounds at one time held their structure's, or homes!

Where did these people go so long ago?
This is another thing that depending on who you ask, you'll get different guesses.

The theory I hold my belief in is warfare.  If your a scripture reader, and not that I am a scriptorian by any means.  But based on the information about the different battles back in those days, I would say they were destroyed during the massive wars during that time.
If you believe in that theory, then at one time the river and water ways pictured here were rumored to have been littered with thousands of warrior bodies.

However, if you don't go with that route, it's also possible they died off from disease or just plain moved on to other areas.

But that is half the fun about these area's, it's all open for speculation and you can really let your imagination go, if you like that kind of thing.  Which I do!
However, if you really like to dig into things.  The Smithsonian has tons of stuff on this that hasn't even been cataloged or even begun to dive into.  This includes the mounds in several states and area's in America.  So if that is your thing, then that is something to consider.

You'll also pass Mound Lake, which in my pictures looks a little eery, but that is because I visited in the spring just before everything became green and alive.

There is a visitor center, which I recommend stopping by.  That is where you'll learn pretty much the majority.  You can pay your entrance fee, and they'll give you a little booklet to help you have a more educational walk when you go out to walk around the mounds.

IF YOU GO:
* They do charge (at the time I went $4) to go through the museum.
*  This is a great stop to do if your traveling the area, it could take as short or as long as you'd like it to be.
*  Not too far from Little Rock, Arkansas
*  There are also a few other local attractions and museums nearby in the same area.

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.  This National Park has been nicknamed America's Spa.  It's a different type of national park.  Sure you can still get your hiking in with beautiful scenery.  But you can also visit and learn a little bit about American history.

The Fordyce Bathhouse, this is where I started my visit to the park.  I took an National Park information map, and took myself on the self guided tour.

There is beauty all over this unique place.  From the stain glass ceiling, to the interesting statues and marble bathhouses and floors.  The bathhouse was open from 1912-1962.  It became the parks visitor center in 1989.  Natural thermal pools, heated from inside the earth is the water that powers and flows through the bathhouse.

Above is what the gymnasium looks like.  Looks a little different than your modern day gyms, but at the same time, looks like it would be even more fun to workout in.

It may seem kind of funny to tour a bathhouse, and view the marble baths, and even the original stalls.  But if you think about the time period this was created, and realize this was how early Americans took to a spa day, the history side of you will love the curiosity of it.

There is a lot more to see inside the bathhouse, but I'll leave some of it to mystery so you can discover it yourself.
Outside, they have fountains and other water fixtures.  They all use the Natural thermal earth heated water that comes up out of the springs in the area.  So yes, if you sit next to this fountain, it is hot, very hot.

Take a walk out on the trails in the area and see the natural pools and springs for yourself.  The park itself has 26 miles of trails.

Some of the trails are even paved walking trails.  You can use your pamphlet you picked up at the information center to walk around and learn about the different things.  Although I visited in March just before the spring bloom.  Other times during the year, these are lush Arkansas forests that surround the town and in and park.

There are actually 8 historic bathhouses in the are for you to take a walk around town to see.  You can also take a stroll on the Grand Promenade in the National Historic Landmark District.

There are also 3 scenic drives you can take.  Hot Springs Drive, North Mountain Drive and West Mountain Drive.  You can also picnic in the mountains or even camp up in the Gulpha Gorge Campground.

Additionally, if you want to experience history yourself and take a mineral bath in the natural thermal pools, you can at Buckstaff baths.

I mentioned the scenic drives you can take.  They also take you up in the mountains that look out over the town and surrounding valley.
Take a day and be a tourist, eat at the local eateries, do a little shopping, then watch the sunset above town.

IF YOU GO:

* This is a FREE National Park, you will not be charged to enter any of the areas.
* Campgrounds start at $10 a night - you can even have hookups for $24 a night.
* There are local hotels in the area.
* If you decide to take a spa day at the Buckstaff bathhouse this does charge, and you must be age 11 or older to use this facility.
* You can do a lot of things for free here.
* The park itself doesn't have parking, but since this park is within the small town, there is plenty of public parking, but they do charge.
* Most springs are safe to drink.  They allow you to fill your water bottles with the spring water if you'd like to take some home.  They'll even tell you the best places to go if you want to go take a drink.
* It's just a short drive from Little Rock, Arkansas and can easily be a day trip if you are staying in that area.