BELLA VISTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ON MAY 7TH IN BELLA VISTA, AR, SOUTHERN GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE SURRENDERS TO NORTHERN GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT ONCE AGAIN!!

Only this time, the surrender will be held at Cooper Elementary School in Bella Vista, AR, rather than the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia!

The Bella Vista Civil War Round Table, with the help of the Bella Vista Historical Society, will be hosting this very special historical event on May 7, 2026, for the community of Northwest Arkansas.

Living historians Curt Fields and Thomas Jessee will be on stage at Cooper Elementary portraying these esteemed gentlemen! For the education and entertainment of all, they will reenact this historic event as General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee met at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, for the official surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to the Union Forces.

Fields and Jessee are nationally recognized for their outstanding portrayals of Grant and Lee. Annually, they recreate the surrender at the actual Appomattox Court House in April, and they are featured in the National Park Service film covering that historic event. We are truly fortunate to be able to bring this piece of history to Bella Vista.

Our Civil War Round Table is funded monthly by free-will donations which are used to cover the cost of our speakers. This being a very special event that we would like to present to the community of Northwest Arkansas, we've established this GoFundMe to help cover costs so all those who wish to view the reenactment of this important event in American history will be able to do so free of charge. Our goal is to raise $4,500 to cover the costs of the event.

Those that can help by contributing $100 or more will have priority seating to the surrender!.

Thank you for supporting American history in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE SURRENDERS TO NORTHERN GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT