4.0Gangster Museum of America(622 reviews) - Teaches Interesting Hot Springs History Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums • History Museums
A highlight for my gangster-fascinated spouse. We signed up for the last tour and joined several unmasked tourists for the tour. It felt strange to be in a bunch of closed in rooms without masks but we are vaccinated (and hope everyone else was too). The tour guide was dressed up like a gangster and had his lines/ script down pat. The tour consisted of mostly moving from room to room looking at the photos and articles on the walls and them watching a short video. At the end you go into a room that has some slot machines and gaming tables but not much time to check them out. Then there is a final movie. You learn quite a bit about the town and its history of welcoming gangsters, and finally how they were driven out, so despite the kitsch, it is an interesting use of time when visiting Hot Springs.See more..
4.5Ozark Folk Center State Park(436 reviews) - A perfect place to spend an afternoon Speciality Museums • State Parks • Theaters
The Ozark Folk Center is a people place,dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of traditional Ozark Mountain crafts and music.Visitors can see presentations and demonstrations of the Ozark crafts and music, living history enactments and other special events that highlight this lifestyle. Apprentice and workshop programs pass these skills of the Ozark people to a new generation.As you visit the Folk Center, make your first stop the General Store near the parking lot. From here,buses will take you to the top of the Folk Center's hill to the Ozark Folk Center Theater and the Crafts Village. Stay in one of The Cabins and Dry Creek (60 units) The center also offers a restaurant, the Smokehouse in the Craft Village, conference/meeting facilities for groups large and small and specializes in business retreats and family reunions.See more..
Giving it 4 only because it isn’t mobility or visually impaired friendly, lots of steps and uneven room transitions. Although it was really cool, self guided, with lots of information and a must if you did the gangster museum tour as this was the Southern Club back in the day. Would highly recommend for inquisitive children of the appropriate age, there is a torture chamber section (you can skip this) it’s not overly scary and my son would have loved it when younger. Also several fairy tale sections for the younger ladies or young at heart. In the bottom floor you will get more of the history of the building in its former glory and ties in nicely with all the other historical offerings.See more..
The museum is so cute! Great for younger kids, but still engaging for teens. Lots of interesting things to read, and hands-on activities. The little farm outside was the best part. Many different animals, that had enough room in their enclosure to walk around and be comfortable. Really nice gift shop. The staff were very kind and answered questions.See more..
4.5Esse Purse Museum & Store(220 reviews) - Best Little Find in Little Rock Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums
Dedicated purse museums in the world are rare jewels of history: Amsterdam, Seoul and Little Rock claim the distinction of being home to the three brick-and-mortar galleries in existence. ESSE Purse Museum at 1510 Main in the SoMa district of Little Rock opened its doors in late June 2013 to share what's inside the fabulous exhibit featuring over 500 artifacts. More than a fashion history, the museum showcases a compelling narrative of the 20th-century American woman - decade by decade - through the bags she carried and the contents within. The delightful displays of purses are complemented by carefully selected items women from each era carried - true history held in a handbag. Small photos in the displays and enormous backlit photos on the north wall show real women with their personal bags. Three cozy dioramas - "Nothing's More Natural Than Skin," "By Land, Sea or Air" and "A Night on the Town" - feature specialty purses, and a large, whimsical art installation addresses the essence of a woman, her handbag and the contents within. ESSE, which grew out of a traveling exhibit selected from owner Anita Davis' extensive collection of bags, is a privately-owned museum housed in a historic building in an up-and-coming, hip neighborhood, close to other world famous attractions like Central High School (the only school that is a national park) and the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park. More than just a trip down memory lane or history lesson, ESSE Purse Museum is a don't-miss experience. Museum hours are 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10, $8 for students (6-18), seniors (60 and up) and military. Children 5 and younger are free. Call for group rates and special tours.See more..
My husband loves Indian rocks, stories, anything really. This place was pretty neat. There is a self guided tour, museum, buckets of dirt to look for diamonds in, and all kinds of Indian relics to shop for. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. We spent most of our afternoon there after it got to hot to look for diamonds in the field.See more..
4.5The Galaxy Connection(190 reviews) - Family Fun For All Monday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums
Star Wars and Superhero inspired vintage toy museum. A guided tour of a personal collection of a super fan including GI Joe, He-Man, Barbie, Marvel, and DC. Lots of great photo opportunities and chance to interact with exhibits--put on a Jedi robe, wield a lightsaber, and much more! Fun for all generations! Guests can purchase tickets for the VIP Tour (Includes an in-depth 60 minute tour with access to our arcade room, behind the scenes facts, photo ops with high grade props --Black Series helmets, custom light sabers, Infinity gantlet, etc-- and a commemorative polaroid picture!). Our current hours depend on online bookings.See more..
We invite you to visit our Headquarters and Visitor Center. Situated along historic Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, Arkansas, our Headquarters and Visitor Center stands within Hot Springs National Park, an area of outstanding beauty with hiking trails, picnic spots, and many scenic drives.See more..
Historic Arkansas Museum is home to an historic city block including the oldest building in Little Rock, an 1850s Farmstead, galleries of Arkansas Made art and history ranging from indigenous Arkansans to contemporary artists and artisans. Visit us for unique programming and events!See more..
4.5Daisy Airgun Museum(173 reviews) - A fun little diversion Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums
I've taken several trips here over the past few years, leading groups of Cub Scouts, international students and just enjoying it with my family. It's small, cheap and if you like BB Guns or the movie "A Christmas Story," it's kind of holy ground. The entire history of Daisy Air Rifles in on display and it's impressive. A $2 donation is suggested, but not required, and yes, there is a gift shop.See more..
4.0Peel Museum & Botanical Garden(159 reviews) - Beautiful inside and out Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Historic Sites • History Museums
Welcome to Peel Museum and Botanical Garden, adventure awaits as you stroll through this incredible home of the Peel Family. This historic Italianate family home is a museum with period pieces and artifacts dating back to the 1800s. Your experience extends to the gorgeous botanical garden that surrounds the Peel Museum. Explore the seven gardens and grounds which are inspired by the Victorian era and boast blooms of the season.See more..
4.0Eureka Springs Historical Museum(152 reviews) - Great introduction to Eureka Springs Monday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums
Located in the heart of the historic district at 95 S. Main Street, the Eureka Springs Historical Museum should be the first stop of your visit to the charming town of Eureka Springs. See the colorful past of this unique town and the people who lived here. A fascinating collection of papers, photographs, mementos, official documents, home furnishings, and other artifacts are on display. We offer a newly renovated main floor with in-depth exhibits that tell the story of Eureka Springs. We also have a second floor with more exhibits, as well as an Art Gallery that features local artists that helped start the artist boom in Eureka Springs. Open 9:30am to 4pm, closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Tours are self-guided.See more..
We had walked around Fort Smith with little success in finding out about the history, but stumbled on the the trolley ride at the museum. This was a must experience time with both the trolly and the guide being first rate. Although-due to Covid-we were the only passengers on the Trolley, we still got a trolley tour and Fort Smith experience second to none. Our guide was knowledgable and entertaining and we spent over an hour on board. I was lucky to be selected to drive the trolly on the way back: he only offered the opportunity to two of the two of us! This took our experience in Fort Smith from enjoyable to wonderful. Please do try this ride.See more..
Emma’s Museum of Junk is a wonderfully fun shop, filled with things that you never knew you needed! Old, new, funky items that change daily!See more..
4.5Museum of Automobiles(95 reviews) - Worth it if you're in the area! Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums
Well cared for, good selection of vehicles. It was fun seeing some of the Rockefeller vehicles. Also enjoyed seeing where they vehicles came from - either donation or on loan. We really liked seeing what the cars cost in the year they were made and what that translated to in today's dollar. I would recommend taking the time to read at least some of each placard - it defintely makes it more interesting. Overall, worth the trip. Oh!, and there's a nice park behind the museum. We ate a picnic lunch next to the lake.See more..
I was in the Memphis area so decided to drive the 45 minutes up to Dyess. There is plenty of parking in the old town square area where the visitors center is located. There you purchase tickets and/or gifts, watch a short film, get some information, and are taken over to the administrative building next door for some more information about the era, flooding, the project that created the area, and some about Johnny's high school. With Covid they aren't doing a shuttle presently, so I was given directions to the house. Once there I was met by another gentleman who took me on a tour of the interior and answered a ton of questions. All-in-all a fabulous experience.See more..
4.5Tiny Town(74 reviews) - An interesting piece of art! Speciality Museums
This was a really fun stop for my husband and I. It doesn't take long to see it all, but it's a very impressive sight. The entire thing was handmade and you can tell that the man who designed and built this had a true passion for it. There are fun interactive elements where you press the button to make certain things in the scene happen. The only thing I would change is to have slightly better lighting in the room so it can be seen better, but overall it was worth the $7 per person to see it. We didn't bring our kids, but I would highly recommend constant supervision if you do bring kids. There's a lot of small, fragile things that can easily be broken by a wandering child.See more..
There is plenty of parking at the site. You start at the gift shop to purchase your tour ticket which starts at the top of the hour. Our docent was extremely knowledgeable, passionate about the site and town, and made the visit exceedingly warming. The house is loaded with original family artifacts. The focus is on the Pfifer family, who owned the house, but did throw in pieces of Ernest's time there during his marriage to their daughter. Recommend going to anyone interested in Hemmingway, literature, or history.See more..
4.0Arkansas Air Museum(57 reviews) - The Arkansas Air and Military Museum is a must-see for history buffs and students of all ages Monday: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM Speciality Museums
The museum is housed at the Drake Field airport in Fayetteville, and is close to I-49 on US-71. There is ample parking for RVs. This is a very personal museum that was very obviously created and curated by Arkansans with a love of the military and aviation. The hangers are filled with military and civilian aircraft, including experimental aircraft, vehicles, engines, radios, historic photos, uniforms, and artifacts. Schools and summer camps should be sure to schedule field trips to this museum for 4th graders on up. It is well worth seeing. It was obvious that the volunteers on duty were very devoted to the mission of the museum. I can't wait to return with my husband!See more..
We were there in late January, 2022. Stopped by to get some information on the Talimena Scenic Byway and see the local history museum. The Chamber of Commerce employee let us in the museum (ADA renovations were being made) and chatted with us about the local sites and history, and about the trains. As we were talking, a train came ROARING by! Wow! My husband loved it so much.See more..
4.5Sultana Disaster Museum(52 reviews) - American Maritime Disaster Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums
Awesome find in the small town of Marion Arkansas... Most people have never heard of the Sultana (steam boat) that was the single most loss of life in a maritime accident in America. The small museum located in the old downtown area of Marion is interesting and very informative. They are in the middle of a capital campaign to raise over 7 million dollars to construct a state of the art museum to fully tell the tale of this tragic event in American history. When we visited the small (current) museum a wonderful lady named Nancy took us on a personal tour of the museum and explained the exhibit and gave us many interesting facts about the steamboat. Admission is free although they really could use a donation. Something I will go back to when the new, bigger museum is completed!See more..
This small museum/information center in Ponca, Arkansas is a wealth of information. It is free and the staff is extremely helpful. They will advise you on the river, float trips, local trails, caves, campgrounds, overlooks and the best places to see the elk. They also have a small museum where the kids can get hands on experiences with the local plants and animals. If you are going to get away from the more touristy areas of the Buffalo National River, this is the place to go.See more..
Here's a great place to learn about Arkansas nature and conservation efforts. Our kids enjoyed the exhibits and interactive areas. Nice stop in Little Rock!See more..
4.5Arkansas Railroad Museum(48 reviews) - This is a great museum with lots of trains. Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums
The Arkansas Railroad Museum exhibits the history of railroading in Arkansas with a special emphasis on the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, more commonly known as the Cotton Belt Railroad. Housed in the Cotton Belt Backshop building, featuring Cotton Belt steam locomotive 819, which was built in this very building in 1942, the last steam locomotive built in Arkansas. Exhibits also include cabooses (cabeese?), passenger cars, freight cars, diesel locomotives, and a large collection of smaller artifacts of railroad history including timetables, tools, telegraph equipment, pictures, and much more. We are open 9 AM to 2 PM Monday through Saturday, but please call ahead if you are bringing a large group or arriving late, we can often accommodate special requests.See more..
This museum is quite out of the ordinary. It provides a fascinating, in depth look at oil and the early days of the industry in this part of Arkansas. It uses the oil discovery and boom beginning in the 1920s in Arkansas to inform about oil itself as well as the early methods of obtaining it from the ground along with the way people of the time and place lived with it. Much of the exhibit area is life sized and "walk through".See more..
We went to this museum because I love World War II history. I had seen the sign for years a decided to go one Saturday morning. The lady that runs it was very welcoming and proud of the museum. This is not anything most history books teach and it's something they should. Go in, it's $5 a person cash only, watch the movie and walk around. If you love history you will be glad you did, and sad out how we treated our fellow Americans. The whole this takes about 45-50 minutes. Enjoy! See more..
My spouse and I decided to visit this museum. Their collection of automobiles is wonderful and they are in immaculate condition. There are also old gasoline pumps and other automotive memorabilia. Highly recommended and absolutely free admission.See more..
4.5Pioneer Village(36 reviews) - 1880s Buildings, Beautiful Grounds, Project of the White County Historical Society and Friends of Pioneer Village Speciality Museums
Pioneer Village is open daily for self guided tours as a public park. Picnic Tables are available. Buildings are locked. On Saturdays in June, July and August, from 10-2, there are guided tours through the buildings. No admission; donations accepted. Also, there are three Open Houses (Festival Type Events) per year. Spring Open House is the first weekend in May and Fall Festival is the first weekend in November. A special Christmas event is the first Saturday in December with live Santa and Mrs. Clause in a sleigh. Field trips may be scheduled for a nominal fee for any age group! Contact the White County Historical Society, 501-278-5010. Pioneer Village also maintains a Facebook Page.See more..
My family had the pleasure of calling the Hogs at a basketball game at Bud Walton Arena. We loved the atmosphere and the facilities were great. I do with the snack bars had a wider variety of offerings, but we really weren't there to eat, so it was okay. My daughter loved that the dance team had members out to meet and take pictures with. Overall, a great experience that I hope to have again!See more..
3.5Chaffee Barbershop Museum(32 reviews) - Don't miss if you are an Elvis Fanatic Monday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums
On March 25, 1958, Elvis Presley walked into the Fort Chaffee Barbershop to receive his iconic G.I buzz cut that was dubbed "the haircut heard 'round the world." Since its creation in 2008, the Chaffee Barbershop Museum has welcomed visitors from all over the world. Guests will experience a 1950's era barbershop that looks exactly like it did that fateful day when "the King" strolled through the doors. Located in the heart of the Chaffee Crossing museum district, the barbershop has been restored to its condition in 1958 when thousands of U.S. Army enlistees received their signature army buzz cut. It also houses a historical museum with photos and artifacts documenting the 70-year history of Fort Chaffee. Items on display include memorabilia from the base that was used by the United States Army to house German prisoners of war, Cuban refugees and relocated Vietnamese citizens. Three Hollywood movies have been filmed here. Displays recall these and other important historical events.See more..
4.5Mark Martin Museum(31 reviews) - Up close view of the history of one our favorite drivers Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums
We're both big NASCAR fans, and Mark Martin was one of our favorite drivers until he retired. He also discovered another of our favorites, Matt Kenseth. It was great to spend an hour on a cool rainy day in Batesville reliving the history of his career. A wide variety of cars he raced, interesting videos, and lots of trophies. Very laid back experience and friendly welcoming staff. Great for couples like us who met at a racetrack and enjoy history and motorsports to spend an afternoon together.See more..
The Drennen-Scott Historic Home is unlike most museum home sites. This property is owned by UAFS (University of Arkansas Fort Smith) and is a "facility" of the university. It does not cost to tour this home, but as most museum homes do, they have a donation box. This home was purchased by UAFS in 2005 and was restored to period as much as possible. It had suffered great termite damage before they bought it. There is some modern lighting, facilities, etc., that is to be expected to accommodate visitors. The home was originally a one-room home and has been added on over the years. UAFS does a wonderful job at exposing original wood beams, structure, wallpaper, etc. If you like historic homes or looking for a day venture this is a wonderful home with a great history rooted deep in Arkansas. Very interesting to see a home that stayed in a family for so many generations.See more..
4.5Saunders Museum(28 reviews) - Interesting and eclectic Speciality Museums
Interesting look into the life of Col. Saunders. Gun collector and traveller. Beautiful pieces brought back from travels overseas and extensive gun collection. My 68 yr old dad loved it and spent more time browsing than my mom and me.See more..
5.0Wings of Honor Museum(26 reviews) - Worth going out of your way to visit Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums
Had on display some excellent WWII artifacts such as jeeps, rifles , uniforms, etc., some of which I have not seen before - even at the WWII Museum in New Orleans. Also had several Japanese weapons on display. The museum was much larger than what I had anticipated. The guide gave us a impressive brief on how the air field was used during the war.See more..
5.0Old Independence Regional Museum(22 reviews) - A good journey through Independence County and Arkansas history Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums
Old Independence Regional Museum, located in Batesville, Arkanasas, provides prehistorical and historical information about the 12-counties that made up Old Independence County.See more..
4.5Helena Museum of Phillips County(16 reviews) - Great Exhibits, Great Currator Monday: Spent < 1 hour Military Museums • Speciality Museums • History Museums
The Helena Museum of Phillips County is the oldest museum in the state of Arkansas. For almost 90 years we have strived to tell the story of the Arkansas Delta. Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm. Masks are required for all visitors. Also, we ask all visitors to practice social distancing while in the building.See more..
4.5Southern Tenant Farmers Museum(9 reviews) - Excellent Introduction to The System Monday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Speciality Museums
This is a remarkable museum in a small town. The history of the union in Tyronza is really important and needs to be known more broadly. The museum staff preserved the old union hall and adapted into an excellent museum. The approach used for interpreting the site works well. The museum gives a relevant and accurate context for farming in the region and then moves into significant aspects of the local history. There are important insights that visitors will gain by looking at ways that challenging elements of history are presented. What works so well is that the narrative line of the exhibit is blended so well with the context for that history. The museum isn't a large one, but it represents the history in the style of a masterly written short story. I'm also impressed with how well the artifacts and photographs are presented.See more..
4.5Wolf House(9 reviews) - History you can touch and see Speciality Museums
My wife loves old houses. This is supposed to be the oldest house in the state. So we went to visit the Wolf House on a recent vacation. This house is located in a very pretty and nice little community called Norfork. It is located near a river which made it a very useful dwelling/courthouse/etc during it`s time. Mr. Wolf and his family built and lived in this place for many years and played an important role in Arkansas history. If you are interested in old houses or Arkansas history or beautiful river scenery this is a very nice area to visitSee more..
Wonderful experience! The owner took time to show and explain how the trains work to my 4 year old son. The displays are so well done, and he explained in detail how he crafted the props. Now, our son is eager to make his own trains!See more..
Be sure to take the time to stop at this museum. Very well organized and interesting. Worth your time!See more..
4.0Lindsey Railroad Museum(7 reviews) - Delightful Find Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums This museum is relatively new. It does not contain any full-size trains but it does contain minature trains and lots of memorobelia from the earily train era in Texarkana. There are fun things for children to see and do.My grandson especially enjoyed the old train bell that he was allowed to ring. The docent was delightful and went out of her way to accomodate our mid-week visit. The museum is typicall only open on the weekend but I was able to arrange a visit while we were in town on a Wednesday. No fee - but donations acceptedSee more..
Here you'll understand the role of Arkansas's White River, with emphasis on the Lower White, as one of the vital transportation routes for the first settlers who arrived in the Arkansas frontier. Artifacts and state-of-the art exhibits tell the story of the river's influence on settlements established along its banks and their subsequent commerce rooted in hunting and fishing, and expanded into agriculture, shelling, and timber.See more..
4.0Central Delta Depot Museum(6 reviews) - very nice Speciality Museums This is a very nice place to stop in while in Brinkley. It is right next to Low's Bridal which is in a 3 story 1900 era hotel. There is a lot of history from Brinkley as well as memorabilia. If Bill is there, you can ask just about any question about the history of the area, and he will know!See more..
This museum is in the old train depot and has a good selection of Prescott's history. Being born here and never left I always enjoy the things I see and remember my mother talking about some of the people back in her day that have a part of their history displayed. It's been a while since I've been there, but I think they change the exhibits up once in a while. It's a neat little place to go visit. Guess it's time for me to take a visit.See more..
4.0Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame(4 reviews) - Visit at least once a year Speciality Museums I learn new things about Pine Bluff and Arkansas every time I visit this place. Arkansas really is the most undiscovered state in the Union from the entertainment perspective - maybe not the absolute greatest, but undoubtedly greater than it is recognized to be! See more..
I have attended a few of there Murder mystery dinners and they are great the people put on a great show.See more..
5.0Desha County Museum(3 reviews) - Top 5 Local Museum Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums I have visited many museums in the Mississippi Delta and I consider the Desha County Museum on of my Top 5. The museum is conveniently located on Hwy 165 just east of downtown Dumas. The museum has several buildings on site with historical items in them, as well as a well preserved log cabin, and old Baptist Church. The staff is very hospitable and eager to give visitors a tour of the museum. A historical treasure.See more..
The Rock and Roll Highway 67 Museum is dedicated to the stars and the clubs that frequented the route from Sun Records in Memphis through northeast Arkansas. Newport and Jackson County were the heart of the route. See memorabilia from stars like Sonny Burgess and the Pacers, Elvis and Conway Twitty including the piano from Porky's Roof Top Club that was there when Elvis played the venue.See more..
