The Crater of Diamonds isn’t the only place in Arkansas where you can find a real gem and make great memories. The rest of the Natural State offers places and locations that aren’t as frequented as other popular and well-known attractions in the state, but the quality of these quaint locales make up for being diamonds in the rough. Here are some of our favorite hidden gems in Arkansas that you should add to your bucket list this year.
You'll find this little historical marker at the Louisiana Purchase State Park near Blackon. Originally placed in 1815, the marker was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Head on over to Texarkana to find this beauty of a road which was paved back in 1904. It's not often you find brick used as a paving material, and this is one of those rare surviving roads of the Beech Street Historic District.
Built in 1924, this is a great photo opportunity for those traveling along Highway 61 at the Arkansas-Missouri state line. One side says "entering Arkansas" and the other says "Entering Missouri" so be sure to snap pictures on both sides!
You'll be met with some truly inspirational views at this scenic overlook in the Ouachita National Forest. Located in Polk County, you'll notice there's a massive retaining wall, which goes for about 84 feet. It was built in 1935, and is one of only two overlooks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Head on over to the Bard Springs Recreation Site to find this hidden gem. The dam was built in 1936 and stands about 8 feet high and 65 feet long. Sit for a spell and listen to the sounds of the water trickling over the edge and take in the beauty surrounding you.
Built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the rustic-style bathhouse is a great pit stop if you're driving through Green County and find yourself near Crowley's Ridge State Park.
Nestled along the banks of Mound Lake, the 18-mound complex was originally inhabited from 600 to 1050 CE and is the tallest surviving prehistoric mounds in Arkansas, worth a visit for sure!
If you can't make it to New York to see the real thing, this is a close second. Placed by the Boy Scouts of America in the 1950's, you'll find this miniature Lady Liberty in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
This beautiful Classical-Revival venue was built in 1929 and is one of the most beautiful theaters in southern Arkansas. For theater lovers and architecture lovers, it's a must stop.
Built in 1926, you'll find this historic streetcar over in Fort Smith. It was taken out of the system in 1933, and used later as a funky little diner down in Ashdown.
You can't miss this bright blue building over in Blytheville, Arkansas. The historic bus station was built in 1937 and is a lovely example of the modern-style architecture not often found in the Natural State.
This historic steam locomotive was built in 1919 and haulted freight beteen Fort Smith, Arkansas and Monett, Missouri for many years. You can find this hidden gem on display at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum over in Fort Smith.
Also known as Boxley Mill or Whiteley Mill, the mill was originally built in 1840 and then rebuilt in 1870 and replaced with a larger mill, becoming officially known as Villines Mill after new ownership. The mill stayed in operation until the 1960s, and now is a popular attraction in the Big Buffalo Valley Historic District.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, much of the building was built in the late 1940s, but there are parts of the theater that date back to the 1920s.
Once an important port town in the early 1800s, the abandoned town was transformed into the Davidsonville Historic State Park in 1957 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Once used as a navigation point for those traveling down the Arkansas River, the name was given by early settlers to distinguish it from the "Big Rock."
Commissioned by two different countries totalling over 50 years of active duty, the USS Razorback is the only ship in the US Navy to be named after the razorback whale. The submarine was adopted by the state in 2004 and can be found in North Little Rock.
What are your favorite hidden gems in Arkansas? If you’re traveling through Arkansas or if you’re fortunate enough to live around here, get out and find some more gorgeous places across the Natural State! Also, feel free to tell us any other hidden gems that should be included in our list in the comment section below!
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hidden gems in Arkansas
Jackie Ann|June 21, 2020
What underrated places in Arkansas should I visit?
While there are plenty of popular attractions you should visit in Arkansas, sometimes the most interesting of places can be found off the beaten path. Located in Little Rock, Wildwood Park for the Arts is a beautiful botanical garden and center for the arts that’s free to the public and filled with 150 acres of natural and artistic wonder. If you’re in Eureka Springs, take a Downtown Underground Tour where you’ll see what’s left of the downtown tunnel system once used by prohibitionists and bank robbers.
What are the weirdest places in Arkansas?
From the historical to the haunted, Arkansas really does offer something for everyone. When you’re wanting to check out Arkansas’ wacky side, be sure to check out some of the weirdest places in Arkansas including Quigley’s Castle in Eureka Springs, the Popeye Statue in Alma, and the Billy Bass Adoption Center in the Flying Fish Restaurant in Little Rock’s River Market. Of course, you can’t talk about the wacky side of Arkansas without mentioning the Monster Mart, a funky little convenience store in Fouke centered around the legend of the Body Creek Monster.
What places in Arkansas should I see before I die?
While everyone’s list will vary, there are several places in Arkansas that everyone should see before they die. Some of the most popular attractions in Arkansas include Hot Springs National Park in the Ouachita Mountains, Mammoth Spring State Park in Mammoth Spring, and Crater of Diamonds State Park in southwestern Arkansas. History lovers will especially enjoy visiting the Arkansas Air Museum in Fayetteville, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas.
