Napoleon

Arkansas ghost towns are lead and zinc mines, timber towns, and railroad stops in the Ozarks and the Delta.

Napoleon was a river port and the county seat of Desha County, Arkansas, from 1838 to 1874. It was located at the confluence of the Arkansas and the Mississippi rivers. Napoleon was badly damaged during the Civil War and then finally abandoned after most of it had washed into the Mississippi River.

Napoleon was lost to rising water — a flooded ghost town claimed by a reservoir or dam project. These sites sometimes reemerge during droughts, drawing photographers and the curious. Never venture onto exposed lakebeds against posted orders.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Napoleon is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.