Perhaps you might know that the largest state park is Hobbs State Park in Rogers with 12,000-acres. But do you know what the smallest state park is in Arkansas? It’s a small facility with only 0.4-acres in the Mississippi Delta. And this tiny park has no recreational offerings. In fact, it’s really a museum that is operated as part of Arkansas’ parks and tourism network. Keep reading to explore this tiny but mighty hidden gem. 

Tucked away on Main Street inside the small town of Des Arc is the Lower White River Museum State Park.
Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
And though this park has no recreational facilities, it is packed with artifacts and collections from the White River region.
This tiny museum/park was created to preserve the rich history of the Lower White River and the town of Des Arc.
Dylan Morse/Google
The land as well as a lot of the artifacts from the museum were donated by prominent citizen John Bethell in 1970 when the museum was established.
The museum is great for educational purposes and if you’re a history buff, you should definitely stop in.
Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
You’ll learn all about the steamboat industry and how the White River and the town of Des Arc became a transportation hub for early settlers.

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As you walk into the museum, you’ll be impressed with the life-size displays of a slave, a teacher, a steamboat captain, and a surveyor.
Management / TripAdvisor
Other noteworthy pieces include a detailed model of a steamboat, a button cutting machine, fossils, Native American, and Civil War artifacts.
chad skabronski/Google
Additionally, other exhibits showcase details about the prominent Des Arc industries which include fishing, pearling, button-making, agriculture, and more.
You’ll also learn about the Civil War, medicine, education, and riverboats of the time.
Shawna Cook/Google
So, as you can tell, though this state park and museum are tiny, there is a lot to learn and see. And of course, the best part about this museum is that it’s free of charge.

The park is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Also, while you’re in the area, walk next door to the Prairie County Log Cabin Museum for more history about the region. 

Have you ever explored the smallest state park in Arkansas? If not, go to the website to start planning your visit.

And of course, you must stop in at Dondie’s White River Princess and get the best darn catfish in the Delta. 

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Lower White River Museum, 2009 Main St, Des Arc, AR 72040, USA