Siloam Springs, Arkansas - Historic City on the Oklahoma Border

First settled in around 1835, the modern city of Siloam Springs gained life as an important trading post located just inside the line dividing Arkansas from the Cherokee Nation of what is now Oklahoma.

During the Civil War, the area was devastated by passing armies. Blunt's Division of the Union Army of the Frontier spent much of 1862 camped just north of Siloam Springs and his foraging parties ravaged the area as they searched for food, forage and other supplies. Blunt intentionally destroyed private homes belong to secessionist families across the area and drove the inhabitants away from their lands and farms. Two significant battles - Old Fort Wayne and Prairie Grove - were fought nearby in 1862.

After the war, the area slowly rebounded and in 1879 notice was taken of the numerous mineral springs in the vicinity. The city of Siloam Springs was incorporated in 1881 as visitors swarmed the area in the belief that "taking the waters" of mineral springs could heal them from numerous illnesses and ailments. Within one year of its incorporation, 3,000 people lived in Siloam Springs and the city did a brisk business as a health resort.

A major flood destroyed much of the downtown area in 1892, all but ending the city's days as a health resort. The railroad soon arrived, however, and the community rebounded as an important trading center for the agricultural districts along the border. Siloam Springs today is a charming city with a beautiful downtown area that preserves some of the more than two dozen natural springs in the area. It is also the home of John Brown University and is located just across the border from Oklahoma's famed Natural Falls State Park, setting for the popular movie, "Where the Red Fern Grows."

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/siloamsprings.

Natural Falls State Park - West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma

When most people think of Oklahoma, towering waterfalls are probably not the first things to come to mind. A visit to Natural Falls State Park in West Siloam Springs, however, might change that impression.

The park, located just across the state line from the growing Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area, is home to a remarkable 77-foot waterfall. A section of the Ozarks stretches across the border into Oklahoma, giving the eastern part of the state beautiful mountains and rolling hills. Natural Falls State Park is located in this area and offers visitors the chance to explore some of the most scenic county in the state.

Originally called Dripping Springs by local residents, the waterfall has been an object of admiration for many years. If it looks familiar to you, one possible reason is that it was a featured backdrop in the popular movie, Where the Red Fern Grows. The 1974 film tells the story of a young boy growing up in Oklahoma during the days of the Great Depression and is considered by many to be an American classic.

The park also features camping and picnicking areas, hiking trails and other amenities. A paved walkway leads to the upper platform overlooking the falls, while a second trail leads down a steep set of steps to an observation deck at the bottom.

To learn more about Natural Falls State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/naturalfalls.

Spring Travel Part Thirteen: Natural Falls State Park, Oklahoma

Continuing our month long look at some of my favorite spring destinations in the South, this is the waterfall at Natural Falls State Park in Oklahoma.

The park is located just west of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, very near the Arkansas border in the eastern edge of Oklahoma.

The highlight of Natural Falls is the 77-foot waterfall. Known by local settlers as "Dripping Springs" for many years, the waterfall tumbles over the rock into a deep ravine creating a spectacularly beautiful natural setting. A steep set of stairs lead down to a boardwalk and viewing platform at the bottom of the stairs, but the top of the waterfall is accessible to those with disabilities.

If the waterfall looks familiar, it may be because this is where parts of the movie Where the Red Fern Grows were filmed.

To learn more about Natural Falls State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/naturalfalls.

Natural Falls State Park - Oklahoma

Natural Falls State Park, near West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, is one of my favorite places in the South. The park is absolutely beautiful and the 77-foot waterfall from which it takes its name runs pretty much year round (more spectacularly in the winter and early spring, though).

The waterfall is one of the largest and easiest to access in the entire Oklahoma, Arkansas, Southern Missouri area. A paved trail leads from the parking lot down to two overlooks. The first, at the top of the falls, is wheelchair accessible. The second, at the bottom, requires a steep walk down into the picturesque ravine.

If you recognize this waterfall, there is a reason. It was used as a setting in the movie Where the Red Fern Grows.

To learn more about Natural Falls State Park and to see many additional photographs, please visit our Natural Falls pages at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/naturalfalls.html.