Perhaps you might know that of state parks in Arkansas, the largest state park is Hobbs State Park in Rogers with 12,000 acres. But do you know what the smallest state park in Arkansas is? 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. Let's explore the Lower White River Museum State Park in Arkansas.

Tucked away on Main Street inside the small town of Des Arc is the Lower White River Museum State Park.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Other noteworthy pieces include a detailed model of a steamboat, a button-cutting machine, fossils, and Native American and Civil War artifacts.

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.

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.

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 Lower White River Museum State Park, the smallest state park in Arkansas? What are your favorite Arkansas state parks? Tell us about your favorite ones in the comments. While you're staying in the area, you must stop in at Dondie's White River Princess and get the best darn catfish in the Delta:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arkansas/no-fuss-hideaway-ar-2/