Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers built structures for Devil’s Den State Park in Washington County. Courtesy of Devil's Den State Park.
Category: Arkansas' Great Outdoors

Depression-era workers shaped state parks

There’s a saying, “From the seed of failure and struggle grows the beautiful and strong tree of success.” When visiting our state parks, do you ever wonder who built all of this? While many people get credit, several state parks including Devil’s Den, Crowley’s Ridge and Petit Jean, trace their heritage to the 1930s, when our nation was in crisis.

CCC workers were paid $30 per month along with food, shelter and clothing to build several of the state’s parks as part of the New Deal. Courtesy of Devil’s Den State Park.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, the U.S. Congress established a New Deal program that included the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC provided employment for young men between the ages of 18 and 25, focusing on the development and conservation of the nation’s natural resources. This program was modeled after a smaller initiative President Franklin D. Roosevelt had implemented while serving as governor of New York.

Roosevelt used the Army to help run the program across the country. The military provided transportation to the locations; military personnel helped organize and run the camps while also educating the men.

The program provided food, clothing, shelter and education along with $30 a month (more than $2,500 in today’s wages) in exchange for eight hours of labor a day, five days a week. Nationally, CCC workers fought forest fires, planted trees, maintained roads and helped control soil erosion.

In Arkansas, the men built bridges, roads, lodges, campgrounds, trails, bathhouses and whatever else was needed. Some of their more famous structures feature natural stone such as Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park. Those architectural choices were a perfect blend with the local landscape.

Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park was built using local materials by CCC workers. Courtesy of Petit Jean State Park.

If you visit Devil’s Den, you can still find the foundation of many of the structures used to support the men as they worked. There is even a dedicated interpretive trail complete with signs to help you identify the remains of the old mess hall, the root cellar and bathhouse foundations. The University of Arkansas developed a website dedicated to collecting, organizing and sharing our state’s CCC history at ccc.cast.uark.edu.

The CCC lasted the duration of the Great Depression, dissolving in 1942 when many of those still enrolled left to enter service for World War II. Their work in protecting the land and building beautiful, nature-inspired structures allows us more comfortable and accessible ways to enjoy Arkansas’ Great Outdoors!

You can see more of the CCC’s legacy on Arkansas’ Great Outdoors Episodes 5, 41 and 50. Carlton and Leigh Wing host the “Arkansas’ Great Outdoors” weekly television series. Visit facebook.com/arkansasgreatoutdoors.

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