Historic Washington State Park

Historic Washington State Park covers 101 acres (41 hectares) with several preserved buildings from the 1800s, including a courthouse from 1874 and a blacksmith shop. The grounds display different architectural styles and construction methods used during that period.

The site served as Arkansas's state capital during the war from 1863 to 1865. It was also the birthplace of the original Bowie knife, crafted there by James Black.

The place preserves buildings that show how people lived and worked between 1824 and 1889. You can see how craftspeople set up their workshops and how daily tasks were performed.

The grounds are open daily and offer guided tours through the buildings. A restaurant on-site lets you have a meal during your visit.

The museum building on the grounds houses an extensive collection of items from the pioneer era. These objects give visitors deeper insight into the daily items and tools people actually used back then.

Location: Washington

Inception: 1973

Address: 103 Franklin St, Washington, AR 71862

Website: https://arkansasstateparks.com/parks/historic-washington-state-park

GPS coordinates: 33.77389,-93.68333

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41