From the Darkroom: Elkhorn Tavern used as a supply camp, then field hospital

Elkhorn Tavern was an important landmark during the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 7-8, 1862. The surrounding fields were used as a supply camp when the Union army arrived in February, and the tavern became a field hospital after the fighting ended. The original tavern was burned by guerrillas in 1863. It was rebuilt on the original foundation after the war. Veterans who returned to the battlefield visited the tavern to view relics and reminisce about their experiences. The structure went through many changes in the ensuring decades. When this photo was taken on June 24, 1956, it was being operated as a private museum. Since its transfer to the National Park Service in 1960, it has been restored to the original tavern’s wartime appearance. This image is presented in partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Library District and the Springfield News-Leader.

This image is part of a much larger collection of historically rich photographs from the News-Leader’s photo archive. Each week, the Springfield-Greene County Library will tap into this vast collection and present an interesting image “from the darkroom" and share its history. This image is presented in partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Library District and the Springfield News-Leader. For more historical images of the Ozarks, visit: thelibrary.org/fromthedarkroom.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: From the Darkroom: Elkhorn Tavern used as Civil War supply camp