HISTORIC WASHINGTON STATE PARK EXPEDITION!

 Most folks have heard about the tourist attraction called, "Colonial Williamsburg", in Virginia, and Historic Washington State Park has the nickname of the "Williamsburg of Arkansas".  Furthermore, just like in Williamsburg, the horse-drawn surrey seen in this colorful sign, is a reminder that horse-drawn surrey rides can be arranged at Historic Washington State Park!  See their website for more information (www.ArkansasStateParks.com)

Wooden plank sidewalks define the Washington Historic District, which is about 100 acres, and contains about 54 buildings.  Washington was named after George Washington, and was incorporated on his birthday in 1824.  It was originally the county seat of Hempstead County, in southwest Arkansas.  It has been called a museum village, and contains hundreds of pioneer artifacts from the area.  The photo below shows the 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse.

  I was there after the Visitor Center was closed, but thanks to a "relocation" of the passport stations to the outdoors, one can do a rubbing of that particular park's stamp, even if the visitor center.  Then there is a prize, for those people who get a rubbing from all 52 of Arkansas state parks. 

This quilt design was on one of the buildings at Historic Washington State Park.  It is a subtle nod to the famous Bowie knife.  It was blacksmith, James Black of Washington, who claimed to have made a knife for Jim Bowie, who gained fame for his participation in the battle of the Alamo in Texas.  The connection of these knives to Arkansas inspired an alternative term for "Bowie knife", calling it instead the "Arkansas toothpick".  One may ask, what was Jim Bowie doing in historic Washington?  The answer is that it was on the Southwest Trail that ran from St. Louis to the Red River port of Fulton, also in Hempstead County, just 12 miles from Historic Washington.  At the time, the Red river was the border between the United States and Mexico. William B. Travis, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett also traveled through Washington on their way to Texas.

 

There is an actual Bowie knife, made by Historic Washington famous blacksmith from the 1800's, on display at the Arkansas History Museum in Little Rock. The handle has the same outline of a coffin from the 1800's, hence it is called a "coffin handle knife".  The end of the knife has been crafted to be sharp, on both the top and the bottom, for about three inches.  The long blade makes it a suitable fighting knife, that a frontiersman could carry easier than the long two-edged swords, that official government soldiers of the day carried.   The phrase "two-edged sword" brings to mind this Bible verse:  "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12 KJV

Notice that the Bicentennial marker below, has a Bowie knife outline, separating 1818, from 2018.  It is sitting on an outline in the shape of Hempstead County.  Even two hundred years later, wannabe blacksmiths come to Historic Washington, to participate in "Forged in Fire" workshops. 

The sign above designates that Washington was in the area affected by The Camden Expedition, during the Civil War.  The Camden Expedition (March 23-May 3, 1864) was the final campaign conducted by the Union Army in south Arkansas.  The offensive was designed to cooperate with Major-General N.P. Banks' movement against Shreveport.  However, the Union army suffered terrible losses in a series of battles with Confederate forces.  The Union army goal had been to occupy Camden, a port city on the Ouachita River, to resupply.  These efforts were unsuccessful, and The Camden Expedition is said to have been the greatest Federal military disaster in Arkansas throughout the Civil War. 

After starting at the Visitor Center, one can continue to the Blacksmith Shop, Weapons Museum, Print Museum, and other historic locations that make up the largest collection of 19th-century buildings in the state. 

Greg Butts is a former director of Arkansas State Parks, and his name was beside a newly-planted catalpa tree on the lawn of the Visitor Center.    The catalpa tree is the sole source of food for the catalpa sphinx moth, where the moth's caterpillars eat the leaves.  Because the caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing,  some dedicated anglers plant catalpa mini-orchards for their own private source of "catawba-worms".   Clio is a website (www.theclio.com) and mobile application, similar to the apps that help you find a nearby restaurant or repair shop.  Clio picks up your present location and guides you to landmarks, museums, and historical/cultural sites.  (According to Greek mythology, Clio was the muse of history and lyre playing) Clio is free for everyone,, funded by donations  that are tax deductible, as a 501c3 entity. 

The two chimneys on the side of this building hearken back to a time when wood burning was the only source of heat for a domicile.  That is the time period when Washington was the Confederate capitol of Arkansas, because Little Rock had been occupied by Union troops.  This two story Greek revival is called the Woodlawn House, and was built in 1850's.  In the 1980's the Pioneer Washington

Historic Washington benefited from projects taken on in the 1940's, by the WPA --Works Project Administration.  This maker is at the community's gymnasium. 

The gymnasium still hosts functions put on by the state park, and also can be rented for private events.

I saw a shallow pool similar to the one below, when I visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, in Virginia.  Jefferson used his to keep live fish, that would later be cooked to serve those living at Monticello.  Remember, there was no refrigeration in those days, so having a ready supply of fresh fish could be a nice amenity!

The bell shown on this post, has probably summoned countless souls, since the days of old.  It makes one wonder "For Whom The Bell Tolls"?

While touring the Historical District in Washington, a man passed on a unicycle---first time I have seen one on a public highway!

I remember a big kettle similar to this one, being used whenever my paternal grandparents slaughtered a hog, and then rendered the fat to make lye soap.  My father would help cup up the hogs into quarters, and after salting, they would be hung in the smoke house, for use later in the year.  I remember we usually brought home "chitlins and "hog souse" after such occasions .  Chitlins are the intestines of a pig that have been cleaned, boiled, and fried.  Hog souse features the various parts of the pig, including the feet, head, ears, and tail, that have been cleaned, cooked, and pressed together to form a loaf, that slices like Spam.   

When I was a youngster, both my maternal and paternal grandparents lived in the country, and they each had a water well similiar to this.  The metal bucket hanging from the rope going over the pulley, was lowered into the deep well, and then carefully pulled up out of the well, hopefully without spilling much water. 

I liked the way the outline of a cross had been cut into the gate, leading to the historic church within the district.  (These buildings can be rented for private events, such as a wedding)

This stone marker beside the church indicates that as early as 1818, the pioneers thought it was important to have a house of worship. 

Williams Tavern Restaurant was originally located 10 miles away just off the Southwest Trail in the community of Marlbrook.  Built in 1832, it was owned by John Williams and during the 19th century, served as a local tavern for travelers.  In the 1980's, the building was moved to Washington.  It continues that tradition of welcoming travelers, serving as the restaurant at the park.  One can phone 870-983-2890 to get updated serving times. 

 

I read that the Crouch House was considered Greek revival architecture, and that Mr. Crouch had been a jeweler.  Notice the boardwalk in front of the fence, which is a defining aspect of the historic district.  

Besides the possibility of staying at a former jail (shown below), groups can also arrange to stay in the 1914 Washington School.  It has been remodeled to accommodate 48 bunk beds. 

There is a video on You Tube where one can see what it would be like to spend the night in the former jail, and the furnishings looked very comfortable.   It would be nice to be a "prisoner" in such a luxurious place.   

You can find links to all that this amazing place has to offer, by visiting their website at www.ArkansasStateParks.com  .
Visiting Historic Washington State Park gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia