Jim Dailey

Skyscrapers of Stuttgart Arkansas

Stuttgart, Arkansas is a small farming town with a rich history.  It is not only the largest producer of rice in the world but is the home of some of the best duck hunting in America and the host city for the annual World Duck Calling Contest.

Last week, the Arkansas Parks,Travel and Tourism Commission held its monthly meeting in the new magnificent Grand Prairie Center.  This 63,000 sq. ft. building can seat up to 1250 in the Concert Theater and handle meetings, conventions and community activities with dining and breakout rooms capable of comfortably seating small to large groups in the hundreds.

On the fifty or so miles return trip to Little Rock, I took time to explore stopping first in another small town, England, dropping by the Mayor’s office and then in the spirit of Robert Frost, I took the road “less travelled by”.  The following pictures inadequately show the peaceful majesty of a bayou forest of towering Cypress Trees … what a special surprise.

Last but not least, on this 100 degree plus afternoon, I found a brief albeit pleasant respite from the scorching sun and treeless farms as I drove under the canopy of most likely 100 years old Pecan trees.  This brought back immediate flashback memories of my childhood when my dad took our family to Scott to buy fresh Arkansas Pecans.  The other photo is of the Civil War Campsite which was part of the Little Rock Campaign.

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In Arkansas we are blessed to have more than fifty State Parks.  Some are in obvious places conveniently located in population centers like Pinnacle Mountain Park. Some are small, more remote and difficult to access such as the Louisiana Purchase State Park which I wrote about in an earlier blog. Some are destination parks Like Petit Jean State Park and Mount Magazine.  Some are History and Heritage, some are Recreational, some have camping, fishing, boating and others have cabins with beautiful vistas. Arkansas parks are well managed, maintained and diverse.  In this blog, I will feature Historic Washington State Park in Southwest Arkansas.

There have been many times I have passed the exit on Interstate 30 near Hope, Arkansas only to speed by at 70 MPH with the thought “I need to check this out someday”.  Well, Saturday one week ago I did just that.  I pulled off the Interstate and drove the beautiful 8 miles to Historic Arkansas.  Not only was the meandering two lane road refreshing but my entry into the museum village can be summed up with the first word I uttered out loud … “WOW!!” I was flabbergasted and immediately felt I had just stepped back into the 1840’s.

There are some 30 plus blocks of buildings, homes, offices and shops impeccably restored to original 19th Century grandeur including period furnishings, many original. The Visitor Center museum/ticket office is in the 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse.

Rather than making this entry longer, there are a few pictures I took that tell the story better than I can write … Historic Washington, Arkansas is a must visit for anyone wishing to know more about our pioneer days and certainly about Arkansas’ Civil War role.  Washington served as the Confederate State Capitol of Arkansas from 1861-1863.

Arkansas Constitution of the Confederacy.

1845 Royston Home with period actor as tour guide.  He told me he had 39 slaves and fought in the Mexican War.

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