fort pillow state park

Hard to find, but of historical significance. If you are a Civil War buff, you should stop and visit. It's quiet here....a long drive to get to, via winding roads, but once there, you'll see they have done well with the smaller Visitors Center. Many of the dirt berms built by the various armies are still in place, tho grown full of trees......still there exhibiting extreme angles to prevent the onrush of attacking troops. Wish I knew a Boy Scout Troop that could come out and clear the trails or place more markers. I guess this is common in our economy, but it'd be a shame if we'd lose this heritage.

This weekend was the 150 year sesquicentennial of the Battle of Fort Pillow (April 12, 1864). I went to enjoy both the park and the activities.Compared to some state parks, Ft. Pillow is small. But it still has appeal. The drive is along some narrow roads at some places up and down hills. Before reaching the visitor's center, there's a lookout to view the Mississippi River, a playground, a basketball court, areas to picnic and stunning Fort Pillow Lake.The visitor center is small with displays giving detail of the battle and the troops on both sides who fought there. The staff at the visitor center were friendly and encourage you to ask questions and offer suggestions.The original fort area is about a one mile walk from the visitor's center. It's not a straight walk, but going up a hilly area the last portion. You can't drive to the original fort and there's is a roadway that gets you closer, but you have to park at that point and continue on foot. So happen while I was visiting the park was offering rides to the fort.The fort is small reproduction of the original. Since I was there during the reenactments, able to gain indepth information on the actual battle and the aftermath.Near the fort is one of the areas in which mainly black Union soldiers where placed in an unmarked grave (the remains were removed and placed at the Memphis National Cemetery). To stand near a spot where over 200 men who paid the ultimate price for their country is touching.The organizers of the reenactments, living history, lectures did an excellent job. There was additional rangers, extra security, Confederate and Union camps set up, cannon firings and talks about the soldiers. The hiking paths in the park are a slight challenge due to the terrain.Also if you are going for the day, bring food and drinks. There is a vending machine and at the visitor's center cashier, you can purchase small snacks like nuts and trail mix. There's no restaurants or stores near the park (over 25 miles).Fort Pillow lake has a small boat ramp and long decking for fishing access. However the parking near the lake is very limited.The park is a day trip from Memphis, but not a place for a quick visit. If you are a history bluff and enjoy state parks for picnics and fishing, great little gem to enjoy.

Not a well know Civil War battle site like Gettysburg or Bull Run but none the less an historic site where many brave Americans fought and died. Over 200 black Union troops were killed here.

This site is great for civil war buffs. Has a nice amount of features retained from its day. If you are going about the country seeing Battle Fields of the "War Between The States", this one should be on your list!

This is a lovely state park, however, as others have mentioned, the museum is small and it is very challenging to hike to the site of the fort. The Mississippi River has moved & the park is heavily forested, so that it is difficult to envision what it might have been like at that time.If you are looking for an experience related to the Civil War, you might want to spend a little time watching the movie & viewing the exhibits in the visitors' center. However, I recommend spending the travel time to visit a different battlefield. You can read about Fort Pillow, any time, anywhere .

We just returned from another great visit to Fort Pillow! This time we were camping at the Group Camp (for supervised groups only). We've been here many times with our various scouting units - I've lost count... at least 6-7 times! There is plenty of room for tents, heated restrooms with showers, a covered pavillion with tables, established campfire rings, and a kitchen sink. You are kind of out of the way once you get to the park - so bring all the supplies you think you will need. The scouts enjoyed a hike up to the fort while I hiked the backcountry trail (scoping for future backpacking excursion). The park also has a great visitors center with historic displays, a video, a few gift items, and has Civil War re-enactment activities each spring. It is less than 1.5 hours from the Memphis area - a great place for a day trip or a weekend visit!

The park contains various breastworks and rifle pits from the 1861 fort that was occupied by both confederate and union forces between 1861-64. The interperative center has displayed artifacts and a movie that explains the events that occurred here. There are various hiking trails that take you through the fort remains and over to some awesome views of the Mississippi river from high up on the chickasaw bluffs. There is abundant wild life that include many deer, ducks, squirrel, raccoon, owls and we even saw some chipmunks on the edge of the yellow trail. They have plenty of picnic areas, a nice playground and a beautiful 25 acre lake. You can use your own johnboats or canoes. The campground is designed for tents and very small campers or pop ups. They do not have electrical or water. The 38 sites also have two bathhouses that are very modern and clean with toliets and hot showers. They also have a group camp and a back country camp area. Enjoy :)

Just to stand and overlook the Mississippi River from this bluff is worth the out of the way trip. The museum is very informative and the park facilities are great to be in such an out of the way place. Rangers and Museum Staff couldn't be better!

This is a park that is a little out of the way, but has historical signficance and as nice place to get outside for an afternoon, especially with the family.

There is a fascinating bit of history to Fort Pillow State Park, dealing with possible war crimes. In addition to the interpretive center, there are several nice walking trails, or you can enjoy a scenic drive. Good day trip, but bring a picnic basket - no restaurant on site.

I was very impressed with the museum with the artifacts and information that they give you. It is a small museum and does not take a long time to go through. If you are interested in any of the hiking trails be prepared for a rough walk. The trails are primitive and some are up some pretty steep hills. I was not impressed with the "fort" after the walk that it took to get there. Overall, it was worth the visit.

Three years ago, a reviewer wrote a description of his impression of Fort Pillow -- and it remains accurate today. However, it is important to know that, as of 7/14/12, per a sign on the museum door, "the swinging bridge is [now] permanently closed." Hence, your walk to the restored fortifications will be long and, unless you're a real Civil War buff, probably not worth the trek. The road through the park (actually a state historic area) is paved, rolling through heavy trees, with intermittent pullovers (one with a good view of the Mississippi), and passes still-visible breastworks. The lake, with pier and boat launch, looks inviting for fishing. There are places to camp and picnic and for kids to play. If you hike, you'll find plenty of trails, although the "wow" factor (that is found frequently at the other end of the state) is lacking.The museum/interpretive center is at the end of the road, as close as feasible to the 1864 battle site. Take some time to read the informative cutouts and peruse the exhibits at the museum; you'll immediately grasp the long-standing inconclusion over the deaths that occurred there. Also, look up and check out the flags and read about their purposes and origins. The gift shop is nothing to write home about.We arrived 25 minutes before the museum closed for the day and, likely due to rain, there were no other visitors. I apologized to the young lady at the desk, saying we wouldn't keep her past closing and asking if there was a film. She said that the film had already begun (playing to no one, assumably on a loop), then continued looking down at the desk. No greeting, no "Welcome to Fort Pillow," no "Oh, go on in, you haven't missed but a few minutes," no "We're open for almost a half hour more; enjoy the exhibits." So we just ambled around, keeping an eye on the clock.When we were leaving, at 3:55, there were two other young men behind the desk, dressed in ranger-like attire. They looked directly at us but said nothing. No "Thanks for stopping in," no "Do you know the way to the fortifications?", no "Hope you can come back when it's not raining so hard." We felt like intruders, that we had kept them from leaving their jobs early.This is not an area that one just stumbles upon. The road to Fort Pillow, off of 51, is several miles of rolling hills, some homes, and cropland. FP makes a nice detour from the Tennessee portion of the Great River Road -- although the most excitement might just take place along the route driving there (within the West TN State Penitentiary complex). Mostly, I hope that when you encounter the museum representatives, they've kicked it up several notches in the manners and personality departments so as not to spoil your impression of the decent little museum.

Ft. Pillow is a Civil War story that is not told very often. The story at Ft. Pillow changes from year to year. Go there to see what the story is that is currently being told about what really happened there. At times it is too politically correct for me but if you are a Civil War buff you will enjoy it. Museum is good and the staff is super friendly and helpful.

Very interesting history lesson-- very informative.

The Fort Pillow State Historic Area is a well-rounded park, complete with Civil War history, along with a playground, camping area, beautiful river overlook, rustic trails, and a restored Civil War fort, but plan ahead for sure.CALL FIRST about the short-cut swinging bridge to the restored fort. If it is repaired, then it is a short walk from the visitors center to the main site. If it is out, you'd better get on your walking shoes, for it is a long, long walk around the gullies between the visitors center and the main fort. Otherwise, the park is a nice place with something for just about everyone. There's a small fishing lake with a boat ramp (small boats only), a very nice playground for the kids, several miles of hiking trails that range from clear and wide down to extremely rustic and woodsy, and a battlefield complete with cannons, markers and a restored main Union fort. Only the main fort is affected by the bridge being out, as it was during my visit.Fort Pillow was built by the Confederates in the early part of the war. Cannon from here helped win one naval battle on the river, but the Confederates had to abandon it because of supply line problems, in mid-1862. The Union Army occupied it afterwards. In 1864, a raid by Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest lead to allegations of a massacre of part of the African-American garrison at the fort. All of this is discussed in the park's film, in museum displays, and in historic markers around the site. Today, large trenches that surrounded the inner fort can still be toured. The main fort, which was along the Mississippi River during the war, has been reconstructed. This was the site of the controversial 1864 battle. The location of Confederate river batteries has long since been eaten away by erosion. At one place near the park's entrance, a Mississippi River overlook has been created. The river now runs nearly a mile from the park, but in 1864 it ran right below the fort. Around the turn of the century, the river shifted its course, leaving an oxbow lake in its wake below.Fort Pillow has a small museum featuring four artillery pieces. The reconstructed fort has some more, and there is one at the main park entrance. Not bad for a small state park. One thing negative for the casual traveler about the fort is its location. It is 17 miles west of the junction of U.S. Highway 51 and Tenn. 87. So, you don't just drive by Fort Pillow, you have to intentionally go there. Be prepared. If the footbridge is out, and you don't want to walk a long ways on trails, then DON"T GO. The fort's museum and other facilities are not enough to justify the trip. Read up on it at the state's website, and call ahead. Also, in April and November, battle reenactments are held drawing large crowds, and overloading the winding two-lane roads to the park, and the limited parking once there. Fort Pillow can be a good experience, but plan ahead.