Time Stands Absolutely Still In This Tiny Arkansas Town
By J.B. VanDyke|Published July 14, 2017
×
J.B. VanDyke
Author
J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
Just northeast of the town of Hope you’ll find a tiny community called Washington. It seems like there might not be much there, as most towns with only 180 residents do not tend to be hubs of activity. There’s something hiding in the tiny town of Washington, however, and it might just surprise you. You see, the small community of Washington contains its own time warp. You can step all the way back into the 19th century at the state park there.
You can find directions to Historic Washington State Park by clicking here.
The reason there’s a state park dedicated to preserving history in Washington is that the town is very old. The community has been around since 1824, which makes it older than most other western Arkansas towns.
At one point the small town was a stop on the Southwest Trail for those travelling to Texas and other parts of the wild west. Some pretty famous frontiersman passed through Washington back in the day.
Today Williams Tavern is a country restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat.
Advertisement
None other than James Bowie and Davy Crockett spent time in Washington on their way to the Alamo. Jim Bowie’s Bowie knife was created right in town, by a Washington blacksmith named James Black.
This 19th century village contains a number of incredibly well-preserved buildings, interesting artifacts, and park interpreters tasked with setting the scene and sharing knowledge about the lives of 19th century Arkansans.
The Presbyterian Church has a graveyard that is home to a mass grave where 74 Confederate casualties are buried.
The truth is, you’re not going to find much in Washington outside of the state park, but what you’ll find in the state park is certainly impressive enough to keep your attention.
