Huntington ArkansasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Huntington, Arkansas.
1. Bell Park
PEACEFUL OUTDOOR RECREATION SPOT
Bell Park is a serene outdoor recreation area in Huntington that offers visitors a peaceful retreat from busy life. The park features natural surroundings and is rated 4.5 stars by visitors who appreciate its tranquil atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty while taking a leisurely stroll through the grounds.
2. Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
WILDLIFE AND NATURE EDUCATION
The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center provides educational experiences about the region's wildlife and natural habitats. With a stellar 4.8-star rating, this nature center is a favorite among visitors looking to learn about Arkansas's natural environment. The center offers exhibits, trails, and programs designed to connect people with the outdoors.
3. Fort Smith Brewing Company
LOCAL CRAFT BEER DESTINATION
Fort Smith Brewing Company crafts unique local beers in a relaxed taproom setting near Huntington. Visitors can sample a variety of house-made brews while enjoying the casual atmosphere. The brewery has earned a 3.9-star rating from patrons who appreciate its contribution to the local craft beer scene.
4. Chaffee Barbershop Museum
HISTORIC MILITARY HAIRCUT SITE
The Chaffee Barbershop Museum preserves the historic site where Elvis Presley received his famous military haircut when inducted into the Army. This unique piece of American pop culture history attracts visitors interested in both military heritage and music legends. The museum maintains a 3.9-star rating and offers a glimpse into a specific moment in American cultural history.
5. Thorncrown Chapel
ICONIC GLASS FOREST SANCTUARY
Thorncrown Chapel is an architectural masterpiece nestled in the Ozark woods, featuring 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. This stunning woodland sanctuary was designed by E. Fay Jones, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and has won numerous architectural awards. Visitors are drawn to its serene setting and the way natural light filters through the glass structure, creating an almost magical atmosphere.
6. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
WORLD-CLASS ART COLLECTION
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art houses a remarkable collection spanning five centuries of American masterpieces in a stunning natural setting. The museum's innovative architecture integrates with the surrounding Ozark landscape, including spring-fed ponds and miles of sculpture-lined walking trails. This free-admission museum founded by Alice Walton also features a Frank Lloyd Wright house on its property.
7. Hot Springs National Park
HISTORIC THERMAL SPRINGS RETREAT
Hot Springs National Park centers around thermal springs believed by Native Americans to have healing properties, established as a national park in 1921. The park features historic bathhouses including the Fordyce Bathhouse, which now serves as the visitor center with exhibits about the area's history. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails, an observation tower, and opportunities to experience the therapeutic hot springs that have attracted people for generations.
8. Buffalo National River
PRISTINE FREE-FLOWING WATERWAY
Buffalo National River is America's first national river, flowing freely for 135 miles through the Ozark Mountains without dams or impoundments. The river offers opportunities for floating, fishing, hiking, and camping amid dramatic limestone bluffs and pristine wilderness areas. Visitors can explore over 100 miles of trails and observe abundant wildlife in this protected natural corridor.
9. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
CIVIL RIGHTS LANDMARK
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorates the 1957 desegregation crisis when nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, enrolled in the previously all-white school. The site tells the story of this pivotal civil rights moment through exhibits, guided tours, and preserved spaces. Visitors can learn about this crucial chapter in American history while viewing the still-functioning high school that became a symbol of the struggle for educational equality.
10. William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
MODERN PRESIDENTIAL ARCHIVES
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum houses the largest collection of presidential papers and artifacts in U.S. history, chronicling the life and work of the 42nd president. The striking modernist building includes a replica of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, allowing visitors to experience presidential spaces. The museum's exhibits cover Clinton's presidency through interactive displays, documents, and photographs that provide insights into his administration and legacy.
11. Crater of Diamonds State Park
DIAMOND HUNTING ADVENTURE
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only public diamond mine in the world where visitors can search for real diamonds and keep what they find. This unique 37-acre plowed field is the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater that has produced thousands of diamonds since its discovery in 1906. The park provides tools for diamond hunting and features a water park, campground, and visitor center with exhibits about the site's geology.
12. Fordyce Bathhouse
OPULENT HISTORIC SPA
The Fordyce Bathhouse stands as the grandest of Hot Springs' historic bathhouses, now serving as the visitor center for Hot Springs National Park. This Beaux-Arts masterpiece features stunning stained glass, marble, and ornate fixtures that showcase the luxury of thermal bathing in its early 20th-century heyday. Visitors can tour three floors of exhibits including the music room, gymnasium, and original bathing facilities that demonstrate the elaborate spa treatments once offered.
13. Arkansas State Capitol
MAJESTIC GOVERNMENT LANDMARK
The Arkansas State Capitol is a neoclassical building modeled after the U.S. Capitol, completed in 1915 after 16 years of construction. The grounds feature numerous monuments including those dedicated to the Little Rock Nine, Vietnam Veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and law enforcement officers. Visitors can tour the marble interior with its magnificent rotunda, chambers, and exhibits that showcase Arkansas's political heritage.
14. Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
VAST MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest encompasses over 1.2 million acres of mountain wilderness across the Ozark Mountains, offering abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. The forest features dramatic scenery with streams, waterfalls, bluffs, and dense hardwood forests that display spectacular fall colors. Visitors can enjoy activities including hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, and fishing in the forest's pristine waters.
15. Trail of Tears Park and Historic Site
NATIVE AMERICAN MEMORIAL
The Trail of Tears Park and Historic Site commemorates the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral homelands to territories west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s. This 4.5-acre landscaped memorial features a stone sculpture and plaque honoring those who suffered along this tragic journey. The park is planted with native Arkansas trees, grasses, and plant species that travelers along the original trail might have encountered during their difficult passage.