There are places throughout our state where you can step back in time and walk through living history. These Arkansas locations have been preserved or painstakingly recreated to give visitors the feel of the old days and oftentimes offer fascinating learning experiences. Check out these historic towns in Arkansas that time never forgot!

10. Hardy, Arkansas
Wikipedia
The entire downtown of little Hardy is a treasury of Arkansas history. Hardy has 41 commercial buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A diverse number of shops can also be found in pre-WWII buildings along the Spring River.
9. Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Wikipedia
The Arkadelphia Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district is located on Main Street between Fifth and Seventh streets and Clinton Street between Sixth and Ninth streets; the district features buildings dating to around 1870.
8. Calico Rock Historic District
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson
Twenty-three buildings and structures comprise Peppersauce Bottoms, a ghost town district on the east side of Calico Rock. The downtown area features an old-fashioned soda fountain and seasonal farmer's markets.
7. El Dorado
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson
Oil Heritage Park, located on Main Street in downtown El Dorado, presents the story of El Dorado as an oil boom town with sculpture, artifacts, and interpretive plaques. The park is a location for many special events during the year. Downtown El Dorado's historic Union Square District features boutiques, galleries, shops, dining, and the art deco Rialto Theatre.
6. Camden, Arkansas
Wikipedia
Camden is a town that features numerous historic homes, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of these glorious old structures date back to the Civil War and were used by both Confederate and Union troops during the Red River Campaign; the Washington Street Historic District is considered Camden’s most historically significant neighborhood.

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5. Batesville Historic Commercial District
Wikipedia
Batesville, Arkansas is the state's second oldest city, settled in 1812. The Historic Commercial District offers a glimpse into the city's past, as does the Old Independence Regional Museum.
4. Fordyce, Arkansas
Flickr/Farther Along
The Fordyce Downtown Historic District features a restored F&P steam locomotive, Peace Park (which honors area service men and women), the Nutt Trussell Building/Bill Mays Annex (the oldest two-story building in Dallas County), and a Presbyterian Church with 58 original stained glass windows that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fordyce also offers many other locations of architectural interest.
3. Downtown Eureka Springs
Flickr/Chad
The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Eureka Springs as one of its "Dozen Distinctive Destinations." The streets of this North Arkansas town are lined with extraordinary Victorian homes hugging cliffsides, and its entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places.
2. Powhatan, Arkansas
Wikipedia
Powhatan Historic State Park contains the 1888 Powhatan courthouse, which displays items of cultural and historical significance and hosts the park's Visitor Center. The park includes four additional historical buildings and the Arkansas History Commission's Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives. Powhatan served as an important stop for traffic on the Black River until the late 1880s.
1. Historic Washington State Park
Wikipedia
Historic Washington State park interprets the 19th century town of Washington, Arkansas from 1824-1875. The 1836 County Courthouse was the Confederate State Capitol after Union forces captured Little Rock in September 1863. The park even features a Blacksmith Shop where the first Bowie Knife was forged.

Kids get a great educational experience when families take trips to these cool time-travel spots in Arkansas and the adults may pick up on a few new facts as well, so be sure to see these places when traveling the Natural State!

Here are more of the best historic sites in Arkansas if you enjoy exploring the past.

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More to Explore

Historic Towns In Arkansas

Leah | February 27, 2021

What are the best historic places in Arkansas to visit?

If you enjoyed these historic towns in Arkansas, you can explore more of the past when you visit one of the many historic places in the state. For history and beautiful natural scenery, visit the Louisana Purchase Historic State Park. Within the park, there is a marker pointing out where the Louisana Purchase survey began. You can see it on a super cool boardwalk trail that weaves through the bayou. If you're visiting Little Rock, Arkansas, you can't leave without stopping by the infamous school where nine African American students had to be escorted to school with a National Guard escort in 1957. It's called Central High School, and it's still a functioning school today as well as a National Historic Site. You can also check out the Little Rock Nine Monument in the city, with statues of each of the nine students and comments from them about their experience.

Which are the best small towns in Arkansas for a day trip?

Looking for more picturesque and lovely small towns to visit? Arkansas has plenty. For a quirky and unique town, check out Walnut Ridge. While it sounds pretty normal for a small town with a population of just 5,000, there is something special about it: the residents' love for The Beatles. You'll find an Abbey Road monument here and if you go in mid-September you might catch their annual Beatles At The Ridge festival. Jasper, Arkansas is special for an entirely different reason. This town is the gateway to the Buffalo River, and the scenery around it is gorgeous. The town itself is charming, too. It's tiny, with less than 500 residents, but many more people visit it for its access to the river and cute, welcoming atmosphere.

What unique historic sites in Arkansas are there?

If you fancy yourself a history buff and enjoy the more obscure, lesser-known history about Arkansas, here are a few historic sites you might be interested in. You can explore an abandoned zinc mining town on a convenient trail at the Rush Historic District. There are old buildings, mining equipment, and the abandoned mine itself. It's both eerie and fascinating to visit. It's no secret that Hot Springs, Arkansas is known for its (you guessed it) hot springs, and while they are still a big draw today, did you know that you can visit some of the historic bathhouses that fell out of favor? Some of them have been nicely preserved and still have the old, ornate baths. Additionally, Hot Springs was a hub for illegal gambling. You can learn more about that side of the town at the Gangster Museum of America.

Related Articles

Featured Addresses
Hardy, AR 72542, USA
Arkadelphia, AR 71923, USA
100 AR-56, Calico Rock, AR 72519, USA
El Dorado, AR 71730, USA
Camden, AR 71701, USA
Batesville, AR 72501, USA
Fordyce, AR 71742, USA
Eureka Springs Downtown, 5-19 Spring St, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, USA
Powhatan, AR, USA
Historic Washington State Park, 103 Franklin St, Washington, AR 71862, USA