Arkansas might not be what a person considers when thinking of the Old West, but this southern state has a Western flair that might surprise visitors, especially in places such as Fort Smith—once considered the westernmost frontier and where a judge who measured out cowboy justice once presided in his no-holds bar courtroom.
Besides the history lessons, there is culture and charm associated with The Natural State, no less its natural beauty. Arkansas is home to 52 state parks, more than 2,300 lakes and reservoirs, and a landscape of rolling hills that are blanketed by green all spring and summer and become bespeckled as the year deepens into autumn.
No matter the time of year, tour groups will enjoy visiting this state for many reasons, and a good place to begin the journey is in Little Rock. The city has it all—from a presidential center and thriving art scene to notable eateries and outdoor venues.
Here, in the capital city, is where Bill Clinton resided and served as governor before ascending to the office of president in the early 1990s. As such, it is fitting this is where his presidential library—the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum—would be located. Visitors can broaden their perspective about the life and work of “Number 42” and enjoy an array of experiences at the center that encompass both indoor and outdoor attractions. The center provides year-round cultural and educational opportunities for all ages, and houses one of the largest archival collections in American presidential history. Visitors can even experience what it might have been like to sit in a presidential suite—the White House Cabinet Room and Oval Office—during Clinton’s time at the nation’s capital. Interactive replicas of these stately rooms give visitors the chance to imagine they are part of a cabinet meeting or waiting for a one-on-one with the president. Step outside to the center’s 30-acre Clinton Presidential Park to reflect at the Anne Frank Tree or walk through the Bill Clark Wetlands.
Visit the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, which offers many educational, performing, and visual arts. About 20,000 square feet is devoted to the center’s permanent art collections and temporary exhibits; 11 acres are decorated with sculptures and walking paths; and a state-of-the-art theater hosts live performances, concerts, and films.
Continue your Ozark explorations in Bentonville, home of the Walmart Museum Heritage Lab, which gives visitors a glimpse into the future of the new and improved Walmart Museum (still under renovation) and is used for testing new exhibits and technologies. Another site to consider is the Museum of Native American History that houses more than 10,000 Native American artifacts and features founder David Bogle’s private collection and several others, both donated and on loan.
Credit: Tourism Arkansas
The Peel Museum and Botanical Gardens, also in Bentonville, features the Italianate style that was popular in Arkansas from the 1840s-1890s. Likewise, the Compton Gardens & Arboretum serves as an oasis in the heart of downtown Bentonville with its impressive array of native plants, trees, and other greenery. This sanctuary of more than 6 acres celebrates the history of Ozark horticulture, but visitors will also find pieces of art interspersed among the foliage.
Another place to put on the itinerary is Fort Smith, located in the western part of the state, where its innovative spirit is still alive and perhaps best showcased in its approach to history and the arts. Among the places tour groups will enjoy here are the Belle Grove Historic District and Fort Smith National Historic Site, the latter where visitors can view the courtroom of early judge Isaac Parker, infamously called “The Hanging Judge” for his harshness measuring out justice to anyone who encroached the law.
Depending on the crime—and perhaps his mood that day—walking into Judge Parker’s courtroom was like treading one’s last mile. It is said that during Parker’s two-decade tenure on the bench of the U.S. Court for the Western District of Arkansas, he sent more than 160 individuals to their deaths by sentencing them to hanging. Quite literally, receiving a sentence from the judge was the end of the matter, because for a number of those years the soon-to-be-hanged had no right of appeal. A bit somber, but a visit to the courthouse is also educational.
By Andrew Weeks
Main Image: Fort Smith National Historic Site, Fort Smith, Arkansas; Credit: Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau
