Arkansas250 Historic Marker Honoring Chief Saracen and Quapaw History to Be Unveiled

The Quapaw Nation, City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas250 Commission, and Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission will unveil an Arkansas250 state historic marker honoring Chief Saracen and the history of the Quapaw people in Arkansas.

Event Details

• Date: Monday, August 24, 2026

• Time: 11:00 AM

• Location: Lake Saracen Trail at Regional Park, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

• Admission: Free and open to the public

The ceremony will take place along the Lake Saracen Trail within Pine Bluff’s Delta Rhythm & Bayous Cultural District and near the river corridor where Quapaw villages once stood. The program is expected to last approximately 45 minutes.

About the Historic Marker

The marker recognizes Chief Saracen and the enduring history of the Quapaw people in Arkansas. Chief Saracen was one of the most widely recognized Quapaw figures in Arkansas history and remains closely connected to the history of Pine Bluff and the surrounding region.

The marker is one of a limited number being placed throughout Arkansas as part of the Arkansas250 Commission’s statewide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Arkansas250 Commemoration

Arkansas250 historic markers are being installed and dedicated throughout 2026 at locations identified by the commission as having national historical significance.

Ceremony Program

The program will include remarks from representatives of the Quapaw Nation, City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas250 Commission, and community partners.

The marker unveiling will be followed by a reading of the marker text, remarks from Quapaw Nation representatives, and a moment of remembrance for those removed from these ancestral lands.

A reception will follow the ceremony at Saracen Casino Resort.

Press Release

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