Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

On each tour at Historic Washington State Park, if people look down, they will sometimes notice an artifact, such as broken pottery, gracing the ground where a burrowing rodent has shifted it to the top of the surface. This artifact was hidden throughout the years and was biding its time, waiting for discovery. Like this pottery, the 1850s landscape we interpret lies at...

black and white plot graph of Historic Washington State Park

How do you measure up to the bald eagle?

Dec 2022

Bald eagles, the majestic symbol of our nation, were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Since then, they have been seen more frequently throughout their range, which includes Lake Dardanelle State Park.

“A Walk In The Park” The Jett and Simms Well

Nov 2022

The Jet and Simms Well sits on the Jet and Simms General Merchandise Store site next to the park's Print Museum.

The Hardy Orange at Historic Washington State Park

Oct 2022

A few of the trees around Washington seem to get all of the attention. Before tours, staff highlight the iconic trees, such as the Moon Tree, Grand Champion Magnolia and Mail Carrier Smith tree so people know their location and where to find them. However, if one were not to say anything, it would be a good bet that they would bypass all but the Grand Champion Magnolia...

Hardy orange tree at Historic Washington State Park

More to the Story: Sanders Kitchen

Sep 2022

The Sanders Kitchen, located on lot 1 of Block 32, is a part of the "urban farmstead" of the Sanders House at Historic Washington State Park. Other people may know it as the Sanders-Garland house. This name reflected the marriage of the Sanders' daughter, Sara, to Augustus Garland. This structure is a 1995 reconstruction based on archeological and photographic evidence of...

Front room of Sanders kitchen at Historic Washington State Park. There is a table and coal fireplace.

Intimacy of candlelight

Apr 2022

Lighting in the 19th century brought families closer together in the domestic space, creating an intimacy that today's electric-driven lighting cannot replicate. This is the theme of our new mini candle-making workshop. Historic Washington State Park’s interpretation focuses on what makes candle illumination unique, the technological improvements in lighting and how it...

Historic Windows in the Crouch House at Historic Washington State Park

Feb 2022

Have you been to any type of historic house museum and noticed minor distortions in the glass windows? If you look closely, you will notice vertical or circular lines, bubbles, waves, and varied thicknesses. Do you wonder what these distortions are and why they exist? This is where a tour of the Crouch House at Historic Washington State Park will assist you. The Crouch...

Crown method of glass making at Historic Washington State Park

Pollinator Party

Sep 2021

Arkansas State Parks are committed to protecting our natural resources within the parks, including the native plants and their pollinators. That is why we are partners with the Arkansas Monarch and Pollinator Partnership. Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville has many “garden” areas throughout the park that are planted and maintained to benefit pollinators...

Two bumble bees with pollen sacks full of bright orange pollen fly in to collect nectar and pollen from the deep purple blooms of a lead plant.

Trail of Tears Across Arkansas State Parks

Mar 2021

Arkansas has hundreds of miles of the Trail of Tears, and of the nine states traversed by the trail, is the only state that witnessed the removal of all five of the Southeastern tribes as they moved west. Arkansas State Parks has five parks that lie along these removal routes. These parks have been certified as National Park Service Trail of Tears National Historic Trail...

Mayflies: Nuisance or Nutrient?

Jun 2020