Arkansas, Phillips County, Helena
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The guns of the U.S.S Tyler sent their last blast hurtling toward Graveyard Hill at 10:30 A.M. on July 4, 1863. The Confederates were retreating. Helena remained in Union hands.
The Battle of Helena, July 4 1863
The Tyler steamed into action before dawn, firing on Confederate troops near Helena on the Little Rock Road. Two hours later the Tyler's captain, Lieutenant Commander James M. Pritchett, brought the gunboat opposite Battery C.
A Barrage of Shot and Shell
As the Confederates aimed the capture battery's guns on Fort Curtis, the Tyler opened fire. Her broadside guns poured fire onto Graveyard Hill and into the ravines sheltering sharpshooters. Her stern guns pounded the battery below as her bow guns poured shells into the upper battery. The Tyler's gunners fired 433 rounds of shots and shell with deadly effect.
The Tyler's Captain Praised
General Benjamin Prentiss, Commander of the Union forces at Helena, wrote Admiral David D. Porter, "Pritchett acquitted himself with honor and distinction...I attribute not a little of our success in the late battle to his full knowledge of the situation."
The U.S.S Tyler Goes to War
The U.S. Navy converted the U.S.S. Tyler from a freight passenger steamer to a timberclad gunboat in August 1861.
The Boat
The Tyler was a paddle wheeler with a wheel at each side. She was 180 feet long and 52 feet wide. The Reinforced Hull Five inches of oak on the upper deck and pilot areas protected the Tyler from small arms fire but nothing heavier. Barges tied alongside helped protected the hull.
The Guns
The Tyler carried three 30-pounders, one 12-pounder and six 8-inch smooth bore guns.
Photographs:
USS Tyler on one of the Western rivers, circa 1862-1865.
A small cutter is in the foreground and a "City" class ironclad is on the right distance.
Courtesy U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph Collection
(War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
The guns of the U.S.S Tyler sent their last blast hurtling toward Graveyard Hill at 10:30 A.M. on July 4, 1863. The Confederates were retreating. Helena remained in Union hands.
The Battle of Helena, July 4 1863
The Tyler steamed into action before dawn, firing on Confederate troops near Helena on the Little Rock Road. Two hours later the Tyler's captain, Lieutenant Commander James M. Pritchett, brought the gunboat opposite Battery C.
A Barrage of Shot and Shell
As the Confederates aimed the capture battery's guns on Fort Curtis, the Tyler opened fire. Her broadside guns poured fire onto Graveyard Hill and into the ravines sheltering sharpshooters. Her stern guns pounded the battery below as her bow guns poured shells into the upper battery. The Tyler's gunners fired 433 rounds of shots and shell with deadly effect.
The Tyler's Captain Praised
General Benjamin Prentiss, Commander of the Union forces at Helena, wrote Admiral David D. Porter, "Pritchett acquitted himself with honor and distinction...I attribute not a little of our success in the late battle to his full knowledge of the situation."
The U.S.S Tyler Goes to War
The U.S. Navy converted the U.S.S. Tyler from a freight passenger steamer to a timberclad gunboat in August 1861.
The Boat
The Tyler was a paddle wheeler with a wheel at each side. She was 180 feet long and 52 feet wide. The Reinforced Hull Five inches of oak on the upper deck and pilot areas protected the Tyler from small arms fire but nothing heavier. Barges tied alongside helped protected the hull.
The Guns
The Tyler carried three 30-pounders, one 12-pounder and six 8-inch smooth bore guns.
Photographs:
USS Tyler on one of the Western rivers, circa 1862-1865.
A small cutter is in the foreground and a "City" class ironclad is on the right distance.
Courtesy U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph Collection
(War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Ashmun 
Roger Sherman Baldwin
Nathan Smith
Ross Granville Harrison
In Memory Of
Hezekiah Augur
Simeon Baldwin
Pierpont Edwards
Bicentennal 
Built at 422 ft. elevation, the light swept 30 mi. to sea. The perilous waters here claimed nine ships. Mules took supplies to the site, 15 mi. north, the westernmost in the U.S.
California's first drilled oil wells producing crude to be refined and sold commercially were located on the north fork of the Mattole River approximately three miles east of here. The old Union Mattole Oil Company made its first shipment of oil from here in June 1865 to a San Francisco refinery. many old well heads remain today.
Dedicated 1952
This is the oldest existing McDonald's hamburger stand in the world. Its neon arches and red and white tile have become an icon of the California car culture of the 1950s. The towering neon chef, "Speedee," was McDonald's first mascot and symbolizes fast, efficient service.
First house built in Anaheim, 1857, by George Hanson, founder "The Mother Colony", group selecting name given settlement. This German group left San Francisco to form grape growing colony. Southern California Vineyards became largest in California until destroyed, 1885, by grape disease. Colony started producing Valencia oranges. Here once resided Madame Helena Modjeska, and Henry Sienkiewicz, author of "Quo Vadis".
This house was built in 1857 by Mr. Geo. Hansen the promoter of that little colony of Germans who founded what is now the City of Anaheim, and originally stood on N. Los Angeles St. between Chartres & Cypress Sts.
