Dortch Plantation facts for kids
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Marlsgate Plantation
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Scott, Arkansas |
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| Area | 975 acres (395 ha) (listed portion of plantation) |
| Built | 1904 (original); 1880 (increase) |
| Architect | Charles L. Thompson (original) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000397 and 79003777 (original) 79003777 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1975 (original) March 21, 1979 (increase) |
| Boundary increase | March 21, 1979 |
The Dortch Plantation, also known as the William P. Dortch House or Marlsgate Plantation, is a historic house near Scott, Arkansas. This special house is the only plantation home in Arkansas that is fully furnished in the antebellum period style. This means it looks just like it did before the American Civil War. You can visit it for tours and private events.
The house and parts of the plantation were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This list helps protect important places. More buildings from the plantation, built in 1888, were added to the list in 1979.
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A Look at Dortch Plantation History
The Dortch Plantation started as a huge property of 1,600 acres. It was a wedding gift to Mr. and Mrs. Dortch from Mrs. Dortch's parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Steele. The very first house on the plantation was built by the Dortches in 1888.
Over time, the Dortch Plantation grew much larger, reaching over 7,000 acres. They grew many crops there, including cotton, rice, corn, and soybeans. After Mr. Dortch passed away, Mrs. Dortch divided the land equally among their five sons.
Exploring the Dortch House
The main Dortch House was built in 1904. It was designed by a famous Arkansas architect named Charles L. Thompson. Many people said it was one of the most beautiful private homes in Arkansas.
The Dortch House has a Neoclassical, Greek Revival design. This style often looks like ancient Greek temples. It has 30 rooms and is very large, with eleven thousand square feet of living space.
On the front porch, facing Bearskin Lake, there are huge Doric columns. These columns are over forty feet tall! Inside the house, you'll find a dramatic double staircase. There are also original windows with special beveled glass. The house has sliding oak pocket doors and beautiful handcrafted woodwork. You can also see fireplaces made of Carrara marble.
Gardens and Other Buildings
The Dortch Plantation has four unique gardens. These gardens were designed by a well-known Arkansas garden designer named P. Allen Smith.
Several other buildings on the property are very old. They date back to the original farmstead from 1888. These include the carriage house, a well house, and a smokehouse. There's also a stable house and a pole barn. All these buildings are also part of the National Register listing. The guest house at Dortch was built to look like the Farmington Historic Home. That home was designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1812 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Bearskin Lake and Wildlife
The Dortch Plantation is located right on Bearskin Lake. This lake is an oxbow lake. This means it was once a bend in the Arkansas River that got cut off.
Bearskin Lake is a great place for wildlife. It's along the Mississippi Flyway, which is a path many birds use when they migrate. You can see many different animals here, including migrating waterfowl. There's even a pair of bald eagles that nest here. The lake is also home to many freshwater fish.
The banks of Bearskin Lake were also used as a camping ground long ago. Native American cultures, especially the Plum Bayou Culture, lived here. This culture lived from A.D. 650 to 1050. They are famous for building the Toltec Mounds near Scott. The Dortch and Burrow families found many artifacts from these Native American sites. They donated these items to the Toltec museum in the 1970s, where you can see them today.
Images for kids
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Barn at Dortch Plantation with modern farming tools in the background
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Small shed at Dortch Plantation
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Outbuilding at Dortch Plantation
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Barn at Dortch Plantation
