An Arkansas Cultural Tour: Where History Meets Legends of Americana

The vibrant and fun-filled city of Little Rock tempts visitors with a huge selection of attractions, dining options, outdoor experiences and an active events calendar. It’s also where Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the USA, launched his political career. See the re-created Cabinet Room and Oval Office and walk the scenic gardens at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, situated on the Arkansas River. For a deep look into U.S. Civil Rights history, take a ranger-led tour of Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and learn about the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who played a prominent role in desegregating public schools. A statue of the group stands in front of the Arkansas State Capitol Building just a few minutes away. Three Department of Arkansas Heritage museums round out your Little Rock tour: Historic Arkansas Museum, Old State House Museum and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

At the foot of the Ozark Mountains in northwest Arkansas, Bentonville is known as a cyclist’s mecca and the birthplace of Walmart. A visit to the Walmart Museum is a must to learn about the Walton family and the humble beginnings of the world’s largest retailer. The Waltons have also left their mark in the local arts scene with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, founded by Alice Walton in 2011. The museum, which offers free admission, houses five centuries of American art including works by Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keefe and Norman Rockwell. In nearby Fayetteville, catch a play or concert at the Walton Arts Center. Also in Bentonville, the Museum of Native American History tells the stories of Native American Indians through more than 10,000 artifacts, including authentic headdresses, a teepee and a woolly mammoth skeleton.

Find more regional history on display at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, which also broadcasts King Biscuit Time, the longest-running daily Blues music program in the USA. In town, look for the historical marker dedicated to Helena native and Rockabilly legend Conway Twitty, part of historic Helena’s ongoing effort to highlight the town’s important musical heritage. You can also check out the Arkansas Delta Music Trail, which has more musical landmarks including the town of Twist, where B.B. King named his guitar Lucille. North of Helena, visit the 1930s-era Historic Dyess Colony to see the boyhood home of renowned singer-songwriter Johnny Cash.

NASCAR fans should make a pit stop to see racing memorabilia at the Mark Martin Museum in Batesville. Fort Smith, once a waypoint during westward expansion, was named a Top 10 True Western Town by True West Magazine. Its welcome center is housed in Miss Laura’s, the only former bordello on the National Register of Historic Places, and watch for the opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum in 2019.

Fly into Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) or Bentonville’s Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA), and rent a car to explore the state.