Explore Desha County through several distinct themes: the history of Japanese American internment camps, wildlife watching and trails, and seasonal experiences. In Rohwer, the Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery offers a window into a defining chapter of this history. Japanese Americans who were incarcerated there from 1942 to 1945 designed and built the cemetery. It is one of only three surviving cemeteries at former Japanese American internment sites in the United States.
Memorial Sites and History
At the cemetery, you can take a self-guided walk along the southern boundary of the original camp. An audio tour narrated by George Takei is also available at the Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center site. Check its availability before you travel if you would like to include this stop.
The WWII Japanese American Internment Museum is housed in the renovated southern building of the McGehee Railroad Depot. Its interpretive exhibit covers the history of Rohwer and Jerome, where U.S. government camps housed more than 17,000 Japanese Americans. A traditional Japanese garden is located behind the building. Another glimpse of the area’s built history can be found at the Desha County Courthouse: its four-story clock tower, round arches, and decorative brick patterns define its architecture. The Arkansas City Commercial District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 18, 1999. John H. Johnson Day is observed annually in November; its recurring month may be useful when planning a visit around this observance.
Wildlife and Trails
The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge also extends into Desha County. The seasonally accessible Wildlife Drive provides access to an observation tower for wildlife watching. If this is a priority for you, check the seasonal visitor information in advance. The refuge also has hundreds of miles of trails open to foot traffic. ATV use is permitted on trails marked by yellow paint on the trees.
The nature experiences vary in focus: the Wildlife Drive and observation tower center on wildlife watching, while the extensive trails offer a different way to experience the landscape on foot. The Dumas area also offers fishing at lakes, bayous, and along the Arkansas River.
Delta Heritage Trail and Seasonal Experiences
The Delta Heritage Trail is a former railroad corridor converted into a recreational trail. Its southern section runs 32.4 miles from Yancopin to Arkansas City. Trail access points are located in Watson, Rohwer, and Arkansas City. The clearly named endpoints and access points in different locations help distinguish this section from the trails in the Wildlife Refuge. If you are planning a specific route, check current trail conditions.
A seasonal point of interest is Esau Farms: freshly harvested sweet corn can be ordered for farm pickup beginning May 15 each year. Sales for 2026 are complete; sales are expected to resume the following year. Esau’s Home-Grown Sweet Corn began as a family business in 1990 in Desha County near Dumas. If sweet corn is a reason for your trip, check availability for your intended dates.
Discover more destinations: McGehee, Polk County, Marion County, Clark County, Benton, Garland, Crittenden, Van Buren County.
For the main travel overview: Arkansas.
