Bankhead route in Arkansas

[Parsa]

Map number 27.

This is the Bismarck 7.5-minute quad from 1966 (1976 revisions).
This shows the area south of Lake Hamilton near the small town of Bismarck, Arkansas.

Except for the Bismarck mileages, these could all very well be off. There are just not enough waypoints such as railroad or stream crossings to make these side road mileages certain.

Much of this road has now been straightened to eliminate smaller curves. Remnants of these older curves still exist, and are noted on the map.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide (western path to Arkadelphia). Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


    

[Parsa]

Map number 28.

This is the Bismarck 7.5-minute quad from 1966 (1976 revisions), with a small corner of the De Roche 7.5 minute quad (1966).
This shows the area midway between Hot Springs and Arkadelphia, between the small town of Bismarck, Arkansas and De Gray Lake.

A railroad line is shown on the Dunn guide map and on the ACSC 1928 strip map. I find no reference to the rail line elsewhere, but there is a faint trace of what may have been a railroad line at the point indicated on the Dunn guide.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide (western path to Arkadelphia). Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


    

[Parsa]

Map number 29.

This is the Caddo Valley 7.5-minute quad from 1959 (1976 revision). I did have the original 1959 map image to consult, and one section of that is given below for a reference on the area around the town of Caddo Valley.

This shows the area north of Arkadelphia, between the area near De Gray Lake and the Caddo River.

The road shown as "likely older path" seems to be the path indicated by the Dunn Guide. Dunn clearly shows an obvious jog east before the Caddo River bridge. Another possible clue is that the remaining southern section of this road is called "Hot Springs Drive." It seems unlikely that an isolated, minor road would have this name. The topo maps clearly show that this road left and rejoined current AR 7.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide (western path to Arkadelphia). Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.

    


This is a section of the 1959 topo for the area around Caddo Valley.

    

[Parsa]

Map number 30.

This is the Caddo Valley 7.5-minute quad from 1959 (1976 revision). I did have the original 1959 map image to consult, but no real changes to the highway occurred.

This shows the area immediately north of Arkadelphia, between the Caddo River and the outskirts of Arkadelphia.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide (western path to Arkadelphia). Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


     

[Parsa]

Here are the guide strip maps for the section southwest of Arkadelphia.

First is the Dunn guide map covering Arkadelphia to Prescott

     


Next is the Locke guide map for Arkadelphia all the way to Hope.

     


The 1928 Automobile Club of Southern California map for Hot Springs to Prescott is shown already above.

[Parsa]

Map number 31.

This is the Arkadelphia Valley 7.5-minute quad from 1959 (1976 revision), as well as part of the eastern section of the Hollywood 7.5-minute quad from 1970.

This shows the area of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and south about half way to Gurdon.

The routes of the Dunn guide and the Locke guide differ between Arkadelphia and Gurdon. The Locke guide seems to be the older road, and is stated to be impassible when wet. The Dunn guide route is exactly the same as the ACSC 1928 route, except for one jog along Main Street on the latter.
The routes in town are color coded. Red is the Dunn guide route, with the northernmost section being the same for Dunn, Locke, and the ACSC map. Green is where the ACSC 1928 route diverges from the Dunn Route. Blue is the route of the Locke guide heading southwest toward Gurdon. Purple is the eastern route of the Locke guide heading north to Hot Springs.

Since the Locke guide route (CR 476) is cut by Interstate 30, a 5.1 mile detour to the west will need to be taken. Continue on CR 76 until the Bankhead route resumes at the junction with Fincher Road. This is shown in orange.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.

The following is a thumbnail image. Click on the map for a larger image. It may open in a new tab depending on your browser setting.

    

[Parsa]

Map number 32.

This is a section of the Curtis 7.5-minute quad from 1970, and the Gurdon 7.5-minute quad also from 1970.

This shows the area of between Arkadelphia and Gurdon, Arkansas, near the small town of Curtis.

The Locke and Dunn route merge together on the northwest corner of this map.
A large number of historic bridges occur in this section. Time is likely running out on most of these, as they are in poor structural condition, and will likely be replaced soon. The Caney Creek pony truss has already been replaced.


Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.

[Parsa]

Map number 33.

This is a section of the Gurdon 7.5-minute quad from 1970.

This shows the area of Gurdon, Arkansas.


The 1928 ACSC strip map shows a store just north of the railroad crossing in Smithton. The foundations of what appears to be a store, and possibly cabins, exist in this location on the east side of the road.
Both the Locke and Dunn guides seem to indicate a path along Cherry Street and North 1st Street in Gurdon. The turn west is just after the cemetery, and the mileages work out well. A small culvert with very old looking cement rails is located on 1st Street just southwest of Maple Street. A one block section of 1st adjacent to the depot is one way only, northeast bound. If heading west, one would need to use Walnut and 2nd Street.
Gurdon is the founding home of the International Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo (1892), a fraternal organization for people in the forestry industry. It sounds like a fun bunch of people. The CEO is called the "Snark of the Universe." A headquarters building is on Main Street.
After crossing the tracks, an immediately left onto Front Street is made. This road eventually becomes Old Gurdon Highway.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


    

[Parsa]

Map number 34.

This is the Gurdon 7.5-minute quad from 1970.

This shows the area west of Gurdon, Arkansas, near the small town of Beirne.


The small McNeeley Creek pony truss bridge is a nice little 1923 bridge with wooden planking for the deck.

Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


    

[Parsa]

Map number 35.

This is the Okolona South 7.5-minute quad from 1970. North is to the left on this map, and up is east.

This shows the area about half way between Gurdon and Prescott, Arkansas. It centers on the Little Missouri River.


Several old disused sections leave and return to the AR 51 route. The 1908 bridge over the Little Missouri River is no longer passable. Part of the structure has collapsed, and much of the deck is now missing. A detour, shown in orange, will need to be taken to bypass this section, and to reach both spur sections of the Bankhead Highway. The bridges on US 67 clearly show that the road was constructed in 1931. Several bridges from that date occur in this section. This means that the Bankhead route shown (also shown as the 1928 route on the auto club strip map) was US 67 prior to 1931.


Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


     

[Parsa]

Map number 36.

This is the Prescott East 7.5-minute quad from 1970. North is to the left on this map, and up is east.

This shows the area northeast of Prescott, Arkansas. It includes the small town of Boughton.


Nea the junction with US 67, the 1928 ACSC strip map route takes a different path. This was likely the 1928 route of US 67. This path is shown with green arrows. The Bankhead Highway, as show on both the Dunn and Locke guides, crossed the rail line 0.9 miles west of Boughton. There is no trace of this road in aerial images, but it is still shown on the 1936 Arkansas state highway map for Nevada County. Since this is no longer a through route, a detour to US 67 will need to be made via CR 222. This is shown with orange arrows.

The Locke path on the southeast side of Prescott seems to show a railroad crossing right after the road intersects with Wildcat Road. Dunn, however, shows a slight jog north, then a path west along the south side of the rail line. This is shown as a dashed red line on the map.


Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide.


     

[Parsa]

Here's the Dunn guide map for Prescott to Texarkana.


   



And here is the 1928 Automobile Club of Southern California strip map covering Prescott to Texarkana. I turned it to fit, and to give the same orientation as the Dunn guide.


     

[Parsa]

Map number 37.

This is the Prescott West 7.5-minute quad from 1970. North is to the left on this map, and up is east.

This shows the area southwest of Prescott, Arkansas. It includes the most of the town of Prescott.

The 1928 ACSC map shows a path in Prescott with a jog to the north. It seems as if the highway turned north at Monson Street, then followed 2nd Street west, rather than 1st Street. It then jogged south again, likely on Main Street. I have no idea why this route is shown.
The eastern section of CR 48 is no longer a through road. The orange route shown will need to be used as a detour. The zigzag route shown was likely the path of 1920s US 67, as it is shown on the 1928 ACSC map.


Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


    

[Parsa]

Map number 38.

This is the Emmet 7.5-minute quad from 1973. North is to the upper left on this map, so up is northeast.

This shows the area of Emmet, Arkansas. This is between Prescott and Hope.


Some traces of old road seem to occur adjacent to US 67. There may be old pavement on either side of the creek crossings on the south side of the highway. There is definitely an old road curve on the north side of US 67 where it bends at a creek crossing. this older road path had a sharper curve. The original creek bridge appears to be gone.

Between Emmet and Hope, the old highway path did not follow US 67, which is more direct. Instead it curved well north along Arkansas SR 299, SR 174, and Hempstead CR 4.


Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.


     

[Parsa]

Map number 39.

This is the Hope 7.5-minute quad from 1951. North is to the upper left on this map, so up is approximately northeast.

This shows the area of Hope, Arkansas.


The Locke and Dunn maps are nearly identical for this section. However, the 10.1 and 10.6 Dunn mileage numbers must be wrong for those points. The corresponding mileage points on the Locke guide are correct. Conversely, the roads on the east side of Hope seem to be drawn incorrectly in the Locke guide, while the Dunn map is quite accurate as to both road path and mileages. The path through Hope is shown as a red track.
The depot shown in the guides is still present, and not serves as a museum and visitor center. Three blocks to the west is the boyhood home of President Bill Clinton.
A couple of jogs occurred on the west side of Hope that connected A Street to B Street. This connection is now made by "Pond Street", but likely had the nature of a couple steps in the past.


Red = Dunn guide. Black mileage = Locke guide. Green = 1928 ACSC strip map mileages.