Jerome Bonaparte Pillow House

The Jerome Bonaparte Pillow House is a grand residence in Helena-West Helena built entirely from wood except for its foundation and fireplaces, featuring decorative details across its exterior. Inside, the home contains two parlors for entertaining, a formal dining room, a library, and an ornate U-shaped staircase with two landings.

The residence was designed by architect George Barber in 1896 and earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The recognition marked its importance as an example of Victorian construction from that period.

This residence reflects how wealthy families of the late 1800s organized their homes, with separate spaces for entertaining, dining, reading, and daily activities. The arrangement of rooms shows what mattered most to people of that era.

The house is maintained by the Phillips Community College Foundation and welcomes visitors for public tours, meetings, and special events throughout the year. The building was fully restored and reopened in 1997, and remains actively used for community activities today.

This is the only fully wood-constructed house of its kind in Arkansas, with only its foundation and fireplaces built from other materials, making its construction method quite unusual for its era. Few large residences were built this way during the Victorian period, which makes it stand out among similar homes.

Location: Arkansas

GPS coordinates: 34.52889,-90.59194

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:09