Historic Washington State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Historic Washington State Park |
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The Old State House, Washington, Arkansas
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 Historic Washington State Park
Location in Arkansas
Historic Washington State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Washington, Arkansas, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States |
| Area | 101 acres (41 ha) |
| Established | July 1, 1973 |
| Governing body | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, Pioneer Washington Preservation Foundation |
| Website | Historic Washington State Park |
Historic Washington State Park is a cool place to visit in Hempstead County, Arkansas. It's a 101-acre (41 ha) state park that feels like stepping back in time!
This park is a special museum village. It has many old buildings and items from the town of Washington, Arkansas. This town used to be a busy pioneer settlement along the Southwest Trail. You can take walking tours to see the 54 historic buildings.
Washington was once a very important trading spot on the Southwest Trail. It became the main town, or county seat, for Hempstead County. During the American Civil War, from 1863 to 1865, it even served as the capital of Arkansas. This happened when Little Rock was in danger from the war. The original layout of Washington was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
In the 1820s and 1830s, many travelers going to Texas stopped in Washington. It was the county seat until 1939, when the government moved to Hope. The park focuses on history from 1824 to 1889. It's located in southwestern Arkansas, not far from Texarkana.
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A Look Back at Old Washington
The Southwest Trail was a major route. It stretched from St. Louis, Missouri, all the way to Fulton on the Red River. Fulton was about twelve miles from Washington. Back then, the Red River was the border between the United States and Mexico. This trail was used by many people heading to Mexican Texas. Famous figures like William B. Travis, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett all passed through Washington on their journeys to Texas.
In the early 1830s and 1840s, groups of Cherokee and Choctaw people also traveled through Old Washington. They were being moved to Indian Territory by the U.S. government. Later, in 1846, Washington was a gathering point for Arkansas troops. These soldiers marched south to fight in the Mexican–American War.
Washington got its first post office on February 14, 1820. This post office is still the oldest one operating continuously west of the Mississippi River. A new postal building was opened on May 29, 1988. Washington officially became a town on February 22, 1824, which was George Washington's birthday.
Washington During the Civil War
From 1863 to 1865, Old Washington became the capital of the Confederate government of Arkansas. This happened after Union forces took over Little Rock. The original building where the Confederate government met is still in the park. It's part of the Camden Expedition Sites.
In early 1864, Union forces tried to move towards Washington. But a Confederate army stopped them. The two sides fought a battle on April 10, 1864, about fourteen miles north of Washington. This fight was called the Skirmish at Prairie D'Ane. The Union army was forced to move away, saving Washington from being invaded. Many wounded soldiers were brought to Washington for care. Several buildings, like the Washington Baptist Church, became hospitals. Seventy-four unknown Confederate soldiers from this battle are buried in a mass grave in the Washington Presbyterian Cemetery.
Changes and Preservation
In the early 1870s, a new railroad line was built. It bypassed Washington, and the train station was nine miles away. This new spot grew into the city of Hope. Fires swept through Washington in 1875 and 1883, destroying many businesses. Most businesses then moved to Hope. After some disagreements, Hope officially became the county seat in 1939.
In 1958, a group called the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation started working to save the historic buildings. The park was officially created in 1965 and opened to visitors eight years later. The Southwest Regional Archives, a place for historical documents, was set up there in 1978. Since then, over 200,000 old items have been found in the park. Researchers are still studying what life was like in a small town back then.
The historic buildings show different styles of architecture from the 1800s. You can see examples of Southern Greek Revival, Federal, Gothic Revival, and Italianate styles. Some buildings also show the simple, strong way frontier homes were built.
Visitors can walk on old plank board sidewalks. The streets have never been paved. The largest magnolia tree in Arkansas, planted in 1839, is also in the town. Everything within the original 1824 town boundaries is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Important Buildings to See
Your tour of the park usually starts at the old Hempstead County Courthouse. This building was built in 1874. Today, it's the museum's main office and visitor center. You can even see the old courtroom on the top floor. After the county government moved, this courthouse was used as a school starting in 1914. A gym was added in the 1930s. Both are still used for meetings and events.
- John Dyer Trimble House – This family home and its furniture were given to the museum in 1978. It shows how three generations of a family lived in Hempstead County.
- Clardy/Goodlet Kitchen – This separate kitchen building is thought to be one of the last original ones like it in Arkansas.
- Royston Log House – Here, you can see what life was like between the 1830s and 1860s. A guide will show you the tools and materials used to build a log house long ago.
- Crouch House – This beautiful Greek Revival home was built by Augustus M. Crouch. He was a jeweler and watchmaker who fought in the Mexican War. This house was moved to the park in 1980.
- B.W. Edwards Weapons Museum – This museum is in an old bank building. It holds a collection of weapons gathered by Basil W. Edwards, a local person. You can see muskets, rifles, shotguns, matchlocks, flintlocks, revolvers, and Bowie knives. The museum also has an exhibit about Thomas Hamilton Simms, a soldier who fought in the Civil War.
- Washington Print Museum – This museum shows how printing was done in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- 1836 Courthouse – This was the very first Hempstead Courthouse. In 1844, it was the site of the first murder trial in the county. During the Civil War, it became the Confederate capital of Arkansas. Later, it was used as the county clerk's office.
In 1929, a group called the United Daughters of the Confederacy helped get money to fix up the 1836 Courthouse. This was the first time the state of Arkansas gave money for a restoration project. Inside the building now, you can see paintings of famous Confederate leaders.
In 1958, local citizens formed the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation. They wanted to save the old buildings and share Washington's history. They gave tours for fifteen years. In 1973, they asked the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for help. The foundation gave land, buildings, and old items to the state. Old Washington Historic State Park then opened on July 1, 1973.
- Block-Catts House – This elegant home was built by Abraham Block, a merchant. It's a rare example of Federal-style architecture in southwest Arkansas. Abraham Block was an immigrant from Bohemia and the first Jewish settler in Arkansas. His house was the oldest two-story home in the state. It had a grand piano and a fancy dining room.
- Blacksmith Shop – This shop was built in 1960 to show how blacksmiths worked. It has two working forges. In 1831, a famous blacksmith named James Black made one of the original Bowie knives here for the frontiersman James Bowie.
- Simon Sanders House and Urban Farmstead – At the Sanders House, you can learn about the many tasks done by enslaved people in Washington before the Civil War. Simon Sanders was the father-in-law of Augustus H. Garland, who later became the Attorney General of the United States.
- Washington High School – The old 1914 school building was restored and reopened in 2003. It's on the eastern side of the town.
Fun Things to Do and Learn
You can sometimes take Surrey rides at the park. The Williams Tavern Restaurant serves tasty country cooking.
The park offers many events and workshops. You can learn about blacksmithing, weaving, quilting, sewing, candlemaking, and even how to drive a horse and carriage.
Historic Washington also hosts special events like Civil War weekends with reenactments. In February, they have the Five Trails Rendezvous, celebrating the old Native American trails. There's an annual jonquil festival in March, and a Christmas festival with a Victorian era Christmas ball in December. The park looks beautiful decorated for Christmas.
At Historic Washington, the American Bladesmith Society has the only bladesmithing college in the United States. This school teaches the art of making knives and swords.
Saving Old Washington
Many people helped restore Old Washington. One important person was James H. Pilkinton, who led the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation for many years. Others, like Parker O. Westbrook and his sister Lucille, also played a big part.
Old Washington has been called the "Colonial Williamsburg of the Southwest." This compares it to the famous Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, which is also a restored historic town.
Research and Collections
Historic Washington is home to the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives. This is a main center for people doing research on history and family trees in the area. The archives have rare books, old court documents, newspapers, census information, photos, and family histories.
Gallery
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John Dyer Trimble House at Historic Washington State Park
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The Royston Log House at Historic Washington State Park
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Closeup of Royston Log House
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Largest magnolia tree in Arkansas (planted 1839) at Historic Washington State Park
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Print Shop Museum
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Williams Tavern is now a country restaurant at Historic Washington State Park.
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The Block-Catts House was perhaps the most elegant of its kind in the Arkansas of 1832.
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Grand piano at Block-Catts House at Historic Washington State Park
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Elegant dining table at Block-Catts House
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Revolver exhibit at the B.W. Edwards Weapons Museum at Historic Washington State Park
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Restored two-story school building at Historic Washington Park
