Historic Washington State Park
Historic Washington offers insight into a nineteenth century community and a glimpse at the people and events of the Territorial, Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction eras in Arkansas’s history. The museum village includes historic, public, and private buildings as well as many of Washington’s nineteenth century landscape features – streets bordered with catalpa, magnolia, and other ornamental trees which have shaded the community for 150 years.
The historic structures and grounds give a fascinating view of Washington and a taste of the peace and beauty of southwest Arkansas. Established in 1824, the town of Washington was a convenient stop for travelers on the rugged Southwest Trail leading to Texas. It soon became the economic, political, and cultural center for a large rural population in Hempstead County, Arkansas.
The area’s wealth came from cotton and other agricultural products including corn, livestock, and fruit. The townspeople added valuable skills in a number of professions. By 1860, Washington and vicinity had sixteen doctors, fifteen carpenters, nine teachers, nine blacksmiths, three carriage makers, seventeen lawyers, fifteen merchants, six printers, and three hotel keepers. During the Civil War, Washington boomed while serving as the state’s Confederate Capital after Little Rock was taken by the Union Army in 1863.
When the Cairo and Fulton Railroad bypassed the town in 1874, Washington’s heyday was ending. The following year, fire destroyed 41/2 blocks of the business district. Another fire in 1883 engulfed 24 more businesses, yet the town refused to die. The Washington preservation movement began in 1929 when the Arkansas Legislature approved $5,000 for restoring Arkansas’s Confederate Capitol – the first state funds for historic preservation in Arkansas. In 1958, citizens of Washington formed the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation to preserve the town’s other historic structures. Old Washington Historic State Park was established in 1973.
Washington was the Confederate Capital of Arkansas from 1863-1865. Established in 1973, the state park interprets Washington from 1824-1889. The 1874 Courthouse serves as the park visitor center. Visitors can also see the 1836 Courthouse, Blacksmith Shop, Weapons Museum, several residences and other historic structures on self-guided tours. Buildings open for touring vary each day. Lunch featuring delicious, Southern country fare is served daily in the circa 1832 Williams’ Tavern Restaurant.
Built by the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation in 1960, the blacksmith shop is an interpretative center with two working forges. Washington’s most famous blacksmith, James Black, is credited with forging one of the original Bowie knives for James “Jim” Bowie in the early 1830s.
Where it is:
The park is located in beautiful Washington, AR. To reach the park, from Hope: take exit 30 off I-30, and take U.S. Highway 278 West for 8 miles. From Nashville: take U.S. Highway 278 East for 18 miles. From Fulton: take Arkansas Highway 195 for 14 miles. See Appendix A for a map showing the location of the park.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
1874 building was the county courthouse for Hempstead County from 1874 to 1939. It was the last courthouse to be built in Washington. It now serves as the Historic Washington State Park’s visitor center and gift shop.
GPS:
33°46’26.868″ N 93°41’1.344″ W
Magnolia Tree, planted in 1839, and one of the largest in the south.
Hours:
Visitor Center:
Open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Administrative Office:
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Williams Tavern Restaurant:
Tues. – Sun. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (closed Mondays)
NOTE: With advance notice, restaurant hours
will be extended for special event weekends
and for special group activities
Paid Interpretive Guided Tours
Daily at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
This former bank houses a large weapons exhibit including matchlocks, flintlocks, muskets, rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and Bowie knives. The majority of the items were collected by the late B.W. Edwards, a building contractor in Hope, Arkansas. Edwards donated his lifetime collection of over 600 weapons so that others could enjoy them on exhibit.
The park offer full facilities including options for lodging, a restaurant, restrooms and a gift shop.
This building was originally located 10 miles away just off the Southwest Trail in the community of Marlbrook. Built in 1832, it was owned by John Williams and, during the 19th century, served as a local tavern for travelers. In the 1980s, the building was moved to Washington. It continues that tradition of welcoming travelers serving as the restaurant at Historic Washington State Park.
Historic Washington State Park Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Arkansas
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Great Places for Great Photos
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Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
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