Petit Jean State Park - Arkansas
The Legend of Petit Jean
Arkansas River
Flowing by the base of Petit Jean
Mountain, the Arkansas River
was used as a transportation
route by early French explorers.
View from Petit Jean
The small mound said by legend
to be the grave of Petit Jean is
adjacent to a fascinating natural
gateway in the rock that provides
a spectacular view of the valley
beyond.
Traditional Grave of Petit Jean
Petit Jean State Park
Morrilton, Arkansas
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One of Arkansas' best-loved legends,
the story of a young French girl
named Petit Jean is part of the
romance of today's Petit Jean State
Park.
According to the legend, Petit Jean
was a young girl who stowed away on
a French ship so she could follow her
true love to America. Disguised as a
cabin boy, she followed her love - the
nobleman Chavet - on his
explorations up the Mississippi and
Arkansas Rivers. So clever was her
disguise , that her true identity went
unknown to either his fiance or his
men.
At Petit Jean mountain, however, the
young girl contracted a serious fever.
Her true identity was discovered, but
the best efforts of Chavet and his men
could not save her. Her final request
was that she be carried back to the
top of the mountain.
A small mound of earth there still
marks what is believed to be her
grave and legend holds that her spirit
still lingers atop the mountain.
What is said to be the grave of Petit Jean can
still be found atop the mountain. The small
mound of earth and stone lies in a cove of
the rocks and is now surrounded by an iron
fence. Interpretive panels along an adjacent
boardwalk tell the story of Petit Jean and the
early French exploration of the Arkansas
River Valley.
The truth of the legend may never be known,
but it has long been a part of the history and
folklore of Arkansas and Petit Jean State
Park.
