10 Historic Towns In Arkansas That Will Transport You To The Past

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

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

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

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

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

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.

5. Batesville Historic Commercial District

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

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

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

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

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.