historic washington state park

We met some friends for a day of geocaching and sightseeing in the park while we waited for the Valentine's Day dinner. We didn't buy a tour ticket because we were unsure about how much spare time we had. Maybe we are just geeks, but we found plenty to interest us. It was a lovely day, and we wandered through the cemetery, admired the champion magnolia tree, and checked out the historic structures. The buildings are very well preserved, and the the attendants were all friendly and helpful.

Interesting restored buildings throughout the community of Washington, Arkansas. Try the tavern in the park for lunch. Excellent food and service.

We first went on the way home from Little Rock on a Sunday afternoon and were not impressed at all. It was pretty dead. They did have a free museum in the courthouse but if you wanted to see any of the other buildings you had to pay and you had trouble figuring what they were and where they were. We went back to a civil war reenactment on another weekend when we were in the area. It was better with all the period costumes and interpreters. The costumed interpreters in the buildings were knowledgeable and informative. The only trouble was the same as before. If you are paying for a ticket you should be able to see all the buildings instead of having to hunt down and figure out the ones that are open to see. They did have a map but it was hard to follow.

My son and daughter in law were married here, then had their reception at the old schoolhouse. It was a lovely setting for a wedding. I would definitely recommend it to anyone searching for a nice wedding venue.

We were on a trip to visit several Arkansas attractions and had some time to fill. From looking at an Arkansas road map, we found that there was a state park near where we were and used that to go to the Arkansas State Parks website and found Old Washington Historic State Park. From the description, we decided to go there and the description didn't do it justice. What a find! From the time we drove into the town, we had the feeling that time had stood still there. It was wonderful. We only had an hour or so to see buildings that were open and had interpreters in them so we chose two, a historic home and the former Confederate Capitol. The interpreters at both locations were knowledgeable and very interesting to talk with. In addition to all the historic buildings, there is a magnolia tree that is almost 200 years old, a catalpa tree that is almost as old, and a moon tree - a pine tree that was carried on a space mission as a seedling and then given to the park when it returned to earth. We found everything in the park fascinating and only wished we had had more time to explore. There is an admission charge to tour some buildings but there are also buildings that can be toured for free and there is no charge to drive around and see everything from the outside. In addition, there is a restaurant in one of the old houses there in the park. We were disappointed that we were not there in time to eat in the restaurant. If it is of the same quality as the rest of the park, it would have been a memorable meal. This is a place not to be missed.

I don't understand how this place isn't packed all the time. There is a free museum and you can have guided tours of other buildings. The tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly. This seems to be a local secret and unlike many places, devoid of the tourist trap feel. The buildings are beautiful and look like they would have when first built in the 1800s but with modern conveniences. Air conditioning units are hidden away providing comfort while keeping the integrity of the time period. I love this place and intend to return.

Angela,As Historic Washington’s first contact location we strive to greet each visitor and share information about our great state park. I'm sorry you weren’t given the customer service in which we take so much pride. If you find yourself in our area again, please stop by so we can give you a warm welcome and information about touring our wonderful park. We hope to see you soon.

Driving from Hope Arkansas to Murfreesboro Arkansas we discovered this gem of a town that time has not touched. The entire town seemed to be unaltered since its original development. There is a huge magnificent courthouse that you can tour, surrounded by a complete town that has been preserved. We were on our way to the Crater of Diamonds but stopped here to see the courthouse, homes, churches, and cemetery. We walked the entire cemetery and found it to be very interesting. Also in this town are 2 trees that claim to be the states grandest of their variety: magnolia and pecan. We found them and they were very large. Washington was an unexpected treat for us and I'm so glad we stopped to see this wonderful piece of history. Our kids 12 & 10 thought it was fun too!

We drove through Washington on our way from Murfreesboro Arkansas to Austin Texas. At first, I thought it might be amish since I saw carriages and women in dresses. But no, this is a historic park, and it is as if you literally stepped back in time. We did not have time to stop and walk through the buildings or in the town, so we just drove through the streets looking and snapping pictures. It was amazing. I would love to go back one day. If you have the time, it is worth it to stop and wander around and take it all in. What a wonderful surprise to find on our journey.

Old Washington is a wonderful historic site near Hope, AR. It is similar to Historic Williamsburg. Perfect for families to discover pioneer life, eat at a tavern, see the oldest magnolia tree in the state and discover the history of the Bowie knife. This was our second visit and we discovered many new places. We will definitely be coming to visit again!

Very beautiful, not to hot the day we went. toured all the historic building that were open. Unbelievable history there. Loved the magnolia trees.

This park is amazing! It is wonderful to tour the open buildings, enjoy a delicious lunch in the Tavern at noon, and then continue to visit the park. It is most difficult to highlight what was best: the homes, the cemetery, the gun collection, the printing office, the blacksmith...don't miss anything. It is a great walking tour (which more Americans need to do), interspersed with very knowledgable guides and well-maintained facilities. Don't miss the gift shop!

We toured this little town and the park staff were dressed in costume giving great presentations at each stop. The local doctor was a special treat as he took us on a tour of his medicinal herb garden.The same evening we were treated to "Trial by Jury", a reenactment of an actual1860s murder trial performed in the same courthouse where the original trial took place. Jury members were selected from the audience to decide the fate of the accused and the verdict of the 1860 jury was revealed at the end of the performance.After the trial we ate at the park's historic Williams Tavern where the friendly staff was dressed in historic attire. The food was good, "home cooking" style.

Our Gifted/Talented Academy just returned from an exhilarating, day-long field trip to Historic Washington State Park. The docents were excellent presenters and dressed in period costumes assuming the appropriate role to take the students "back in time." We toured the 1836 Courthouse, Blacksmith Shop, Print Museum, Candle Shop, Weapons Museum (with soldier's life demonstration), Sanders House and Kitchen, and even enjoyed a surrey ride. After spending the school year studying 19th century life, this field trip really gave our students a "hands on" experience they could never get in a classroom! I can't say enough about how well organized and efficient the staff is there. I would highly recommend this state park to anyone. Whether you are a 10 year old student or a veteran teacher, there is plenty to see and do at this place!

Wonderful old trees, large number of old buildings, some beautiful architecture, interesting doorway into lots of history!