Visit Arkansas Top 5 Historic Sites and Museums (2024)

There is no exaggeration in defining Arkansas as the state of Museums. The unusual blend of natural beauty with the cultural heritage of hundreds of years is something to experience in a lifetime. You might find some splendid mountains and some beautiful lakes in any part of the world. You can also visit some of the world’s best museums. But when it comes to Arkansas, there is a natural link between nature, history, and the evolution of mankind. That’s what makes this state special and popular.

Top 5 Museums in Arkansas

If you want to explore this one-of-a-kind state of the USA with the right planning, this article has got your back. Among multiple museums and historic sites of Arkansas, here is a proper list of the top destinations with all the required details.

1. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

On the top of the list, we have a museum that is not so old with respect to the other museums of Arkansas. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art was built in 2011 but the architecture and the collection made this museum talk of the town.

This museum is founded by the Walton family, who is the founder of Walmart, and designed by architect Moshe Safdie and engineer Buro Happold. And the name actually came from the natural crystal spring beside the museum which adds a serene view from the museum itself. There are galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, a library, a sculpture garden, a museum store, a restaurant, and many more. The permanent collection includes American art pieces from the early to the modern age along with temporary exhibits. Interestingly, the total collection here is worth half a billion dollars.

Location: 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas

Entry fees: Free for everyone

Opening Hours: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Wednesday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday

2. The Gangster Museum of America

While most of us always consider a museum as a serious and sophisticated place, The Gangster Museum of America has something unique to present. It conserves the frantic era of the ’20s, ’30s, and ‘40s when gambling, bootlegging, etc. were a part of everyday life in Hot Springs. You can imagine this place as the older version of Las Vegas!

There are seven different galleries including the Casino gallery, Capone gallery, PowerBrokers, etc. A guided tour would take around an hour to complete the whole museum. Appropriate for all ages, this museum brings a completely distinct experience of learning about the darker side of early America.

Location: 510 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, United States

Entry fees: $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens, $6 for children of age 8 to 12 years, and free for kids

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.

3. Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum

One of the eminent American authors, Ernest Hemingway lived in a house that is wide open to visitors now. Any literature enthusiast would love to visit this museum to witness the legendary building at least once. On the other hand, the museum is also dedicated to the Pfeiffer family.

Pauline Pfeiffer was the second wife of Ernest Hemingway. Her parents, Paul and Mary Pfeiffer were involved in the development of Northeast Arkansas during the Depression and New Deal eras. You can observe the versatile architecture built by a local builder in 1910 that replicates typical early American home architecture. Interestingly, Paul would hire jobless people from the locality and give them some work to do, to help them financially. One of these jobs includes painting the already painted walls!

Location: 510 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, United States

Entry fees: $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $5 for children more than 5 years old, and free for kids and museum members

Opening Hours: 09:00 AM to 3:00 PM from Monday to Saturday

4. Fort Smith Museum of History

Fort Smith is a historic site in Arkansas as its origins as a military post during the frontier era. The museum preserves the simultaneous contributions, impact, and progress of the cultural, political, and economic development of the locality.

You have an opportunity to travel back 200 years and experience how the city has evolved in different aspects. This is the oldest functioning museum in the state where visitors can see around 40,000 artifacts on two floors. The main attractions include the Darby room, Boyd Gallery, Shadow of the Gallow, etc. You can also enjoy some drinks and ice cream from the 1920 soda fountain, which is a part of their working exhibits.

Location: 320 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901, United States

Entry fees: $7 for adults, $5 for military and senior citizens, $2 for children aged between 6 to 15 years old, and free for kids, UAFS students, and museum members

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM from Tuesday to Saturday

5. Museum of Discovery (Little Rock)

Museum of Discovery is the 6th best science museum in the USA as ranked by MENSA. Here visitors can experience 90+ hands-on exhibits that promote STEM education. Undoubtedly, this oldest building in the River Market district is one of the must-visit places for kids and students.

To fuel a passion for science and technology and to apply technical curiosities in hand, this museum offers an interactive session for visitors. There are different events like Wiggle Worms, Science after Dark, etc., and different exhibitions like Tornado Alley Theater. In addition, there are different STEM programs and science exhibitions arranged especially for the students.

Location: 500 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201, United States

Entry fees: $12 for adults, $10 for military and senior citizens, $10 for children above 12 years old, teachers, and Litte Rock city employees

Opening Hours: 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM from Tuesday to Saturday, 01:00 PM to 05:00 PM on Sunday

As you complete the museum tour, there’s something more NOT to miss. Arkansas being the cultural epicenter of the USA, has different historic stories to present to visitors now. Here are the top 5 destinations for you.

Top 5 Historic Places in Arkansas

1. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

In 1957, Governor Orval Faubus prevented nine African American students from integrating into the high school. As you talk about racism so much now, this place is a must visit. The famous incident is termed as “Little Rock Nine” to indicate the first nine African American students to step up in the world of white students. Between obvious torment and discrimination from their classmates, 8 of these 9 students completed the curriculum.

Location: 2120 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive, Little Rock

Entry fees: Free for everyone

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM from Tuesday to Saturday

2. Hot Springs National Park

Second, on the list, we have a place that resides in the blend of nature and history. Hot Springs National park has Bathhouse Row which was built between 1892 and 1923. There are several bathhouses like Lamar Bathhouse, Buckstaff Bathhouse, Quapaw Bathhouse, Hale Bathhouse, etc. that have different architectural features. There are natural wonders including thermal springs and mountain views. Tourists can also opt for hiking, camping, picnicking, etc amidst the abandoned nature.

Location: 101 Reserve Street, Hot Springs, AR 71901

Entry fees: Free for everyone, separate passes are required to enter in Bathhouse or to do other activities

Opening Hours: 05:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day

3. Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery

This is one of only three extant Japanese American confinement site cemeteries in the United States where a cemetery was built in 1942. This 500-acre national historic land has several monuments including one honoring Japanese American soldiers who died fighting in Europe during World War II. This place has a present relevance for enthusiasts and students, to get in-depth knowledge of the life of soldiers during world war.

Location: Desha County, AR

Entry fees: Free for everyone

4. Arkansas Post

Historic sites of Arkansas cannot be complete without Arkansas Post. This is the first European settlement in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and present-day Arkansas. Interestingly, it was the capital of Arkansas from 1819 for three years and after that, the territorial government relocated to Little Rock. There is a museum as well that replicates the complex timeline including several cultures. For example, the Quapaw, French settlers, the short period of Spanish rule, an American Revolutionary War skirmish in 1783, an American Civil War battle in 1863, etc.

Location: 1741 Old Post Rd, Gillett, AR 72055, United States

Entry fees: Free for everyone, separate passes are required to enter in Bathhouse or to do other activities

Opening Hours: 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM Thursday to Monday

5. Pea Ridge National Military Park

This is one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the USA and this park features a visitor center and museum, a driving tour, the restored battlefields, hiking trails, a portion of the pre-war Old Telegraph/Wire Road, etc. An interesting fact about this park is, in 1956 when the preservation was proposed, only 1 acre of land could be preserved. As a breakthrough, this 4,300 acres of land was preserved. Visitors must roam around this notable destination.

Location: 15930 National Park Dr, Garfield, AR 72732, United States

Entry fees: Free for everyone

Opening Hours: 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM from Monday to Sunday

Conclusion

As we complete this article, you get an overall picture of versatility. While you’re in Arkansas, there are different museums and historic places that can serve the large history of the USA as well as the world. From ancient buildings to modern STEM learning, from historic lands to natural blends, each destination has something unique to offer.

So, try to make a fantastic schedule to cover each of these destinations and have a tired yet satisfied mind in the end.