Introduction
In Arkadelphia, you can find many fun things to do. There are museums, parks, and other attractions that will keep you busy while you’re in the city. If you need more information on what these attractions are or where they are located, contact the Diamond Lakes Regional Visitors Center.
Diamond Lakes Regional Visitors Center
If you’re in town to explore the area, Diamond Lakes Regional Visitors Center is your first stop. The visitors center has information on all of the attractions in the area and can help you plan upcoming trips. It’s located at the entrance to the park on Highway 25, just south of downtown Arkadelphia. Hours vary by season but generally run from 8:30 am to 5 pm daily.
The museum features exhibits about Diamond Lake’s history as well as its natural resources, with special attention paid to geology and wildlife conservation efforts made within the park boundaries.
There are also interactive displays for children—including a fossil dig site where kids can dig for their prehistoric trilobites—and an art exhibit featuring local artists’ work related to nature themes like watercolor landscapes or sculptures made from found materials such as tree branches or stones found near lakeshores that have been transformed into something beautiful by human hands through creative processes like painting them with acrylics or adding details like glitter glue onto existing shapes (like leaves) so they appear less ordinary than their original forms might suggest upon cursory inspection alone!
Caddo Valley Museum
The Caddo Valley Museum is an amazing place to learn about Arkadelphia’s history. The building itself was built in 1886 and was home to a school until 1973 when it became a museum. The museum features exhibits on the history of Arkadelphia, including an exhibit on the Civil War and another called “Annie Besser: A Life Well Lived.” It also has local artifacts such as clothing from the 1800s up through modern times, toys from different eras, furniture pieces (mostly antique), and more!
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 am-5 pm; Saturday 10 am-4 pm
Costs: Adults $2; Seniors (60+) & Students (12+) $1
Henderson State University
Henderson State University is a four-year, public university. It is the flagship campus of the Arkansas Tech University System and serves as the administrative headquarters for that system. The university was founded in 1905 as Arkadelphia Methodist College and later became Henderson-Brown College when it merged with another school in Arkadelphia.
In 1925, a law school was added to the institution and it became known as Henderson-Brown Law School until 1937 when it was renamed after Richard W. Henderson (a former governor of Arkansas). The name was changed again at some point before 1977 to Henderson State College when it received its first accreditation from SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).
The Collins Theatre
The Collins Theatre is a historic movie theater that has been around since the 1920s. It’s located in Arkadelphia’s historic downtown area, but it also shows live performances on occasion. The venue has a restaurant and bar where you can grab a bite to eat before or after seeing a show, or even just hang out for drinks at the bar.
Rialto Theatre
The Rialto Theatre is a historic theatre that has been in operation since the early 1900s. The beautiful building’s interior was designed by architect Charles R. Weatherly and features intricate woodwork along with spacious balconies and an elaborate main floor. The theatre is open to the public, but only hosts special events such as plays, music concerts, awards ceremonies, or other cultural events such as art exhibitions or poetry readings.
Ouachita National Forest
Ouachita National Forest is a forest located in the Ouachita Mountains. It’s located near Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and offers hiking through some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.
The Ouachita National Forest offers:
- Hiking trails
- Viewing wildlife
- Camping in designated areas (with a permit)
The easiest way to get to this spot is by car, but you can also take your bicycle or motorcycle, as long as you ensure visibility with proper headlights!
You’ll want to bring along plenty of water and sunscreen, as well as warm clothes if you plan on camping out overnight at one of the designated campsites. If you’re just planning on hiking for an afternoon or two, you don’t need to pack anything other than your wallet and keys into your pockets; we recommend wearing jeans/pants/trousers instead of shorts since they provide more protection from any poisonous plants that could potentially harm your legs while walking through these woods!
DeGray Lake Resort State Park
DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a popular destination for vacationers and locals alike. The lake itself is one of the most beautiful in Arkansas, and it’s also a great spot for fishing, boating, water skiing, and swimming. The park has several hiking trails that lead to gorgeous views of the lake, including one that ascends to a lookout point overlooking the entire area. There are cabins available to rent year-round if you want to stay overnight at DeGray Lake Resort State Park (and there are plenty of RVs as well).
South Arkansas Arboretum
South Arkansas Arboretum is the perfect place to get away from the city. Located in the Ouachita National Forest, this arboretum features a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. It’s also a great place for picnics and hiking with your family.
DeGray Lake Resort Golf Course
The DeGray Lake Resort Golf Course is a public golf course located in DeGray Lake Resort State Park. The 18-hole, par 72 course features 6,116 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 69.6 and it has a slope rating of 117 on Bermuda grass greens.
The golf course offers lessons, carts, club rentals, and a driving range as well as an excellent restaurant and bar with great views of the lake!
Clark County Historical Museum
The Clark County Historical Museum is located in the old courthouse, and admission is free. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and on weekends from 1 pm to 4 pm. The gift shop has a wide variety of Arkansas-themed items for sale, including jewelry and clothing as well as books about the history of Arkadelphia. You can also get your fill of souvenirs at the museum store or in its library or research room before you leave town!
If you’re interested in genealogy research—and who isn’t?—there are several helpful resources available at this location (which also doubles as a visitor information center).
Centennial Plaza
Centennial Plaza is a public park in downtown Arkadelphia and has been the site of many community events throughout the year. Many people enjoy spending time there because it’s a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, whether you’re sitting on a bench or playing with your kids in the adjacent playground. There are also plenty of trees surrounding this area that provide shade during those hot summer days.
The plaza was built in 2008 as part of Arkadelphia’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, which occurred from April 17th through July 4th that year. It includes monuments dedicated to various individuals who have contributed significantly to our city over time, such as former mayors John W. Ross and Jerry Coble (who died while serving his term) along with other individuals who have worked hard throughout their lives on projects like building schools or churches in town.
The plaza itself features four bronze sculptures along its perimeter: two statues depicting Lewis & Clark’s departure from Fort Osage near present-day Kansas City; another showing an American Indian warrior riding atop an animal resembling today’s horseback riding hobbyist’s main model–the trusty steed!
Historic Downtown Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia is a historic town with many historic buildings, including the Old Main Building, which was built in 1886 to serve as a courthouse and jail. Today, you can walk through this building on your own or take a guided tour of downtown that will include the Old Main Building and the First National Bank Building, both of which were built around 1900. These beautiful structures are open for tours Monday through Saturday from 9 am – 4 pm. Other historical places downtown include:
- The Stoughton House Museum (1854)
- The Cox-Fisher House (1855)
- The Carden-Fisher House (c1860)
The Governor’s Mansion and Gardens Historic District
The Governor’s Mansion and Gardens Historic District is a historic district in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The district encompasses the Governor’s Mansion, along with its associated gardens nearby. The mansion was built in 1856 by local merchant Prentice Baker as a wedding present for his daughter Anna; it was purchased by the state of Arkansas in 1950 as a residence for future governors and their families. As such it was home to four Governors: Sid McMath (1955–1961), Orval Faubus (1955–1967), Dale Bumpers (1971–1975), and Bill Clinton (1973–1977).
The grounds include several outbuildings used on the property over time, including a cookhouse that dates to 1913, the former gardener’s cottage now serving as an open-air theater stage area known as “Tanglewood” named after its layout reminiscent of Tanglewood Grove near Boston USA where shows were performed during summers when heat might be too much otherwise.
There are also two staff houses which originally housed enslaved people but were renovated into dormitories later they currently house volunteers who assist with maintaining historical sites around the Arkansas State Parks system including Mount Ida Cemetery located about five miles south of here across highway US 63/US 67 intersection towards Hope Valley where many Civil War battles took place between 1863 – 1865 towards the end of the war when Union troops captured Little Rock ARKANSAS next day after General Beauregard retreated southward toward New Orleans LA.
The Governor’s Mansion is open daily except for Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve 10 am-5 pm daily except Sundays when closed all day due to maintenance work being done inside the building so please come back later if interested in going inside during those times listed above before calling ahead first just in case someone else has already gone ahead without permission so you don’t waste any time waiting outside waiting only to find out they’re not allowing anyone inside right
Reynolds Science Center Planetarium at Henderson State University.
The planetarium at Henderson State University is open to the public and is located on campus in Arkadelphia. It has a full-dome projector, which shows you an immersive 3D experience of the sky above. You can see planets, constellations, and galaxies. The planetarium staff has a wide range of shows that are available for every age group. The show times vary depending on what day you visit and what time of year it is, but there’s always some sort of show going on at all times during their regular hours (10 am-4 pm Monday through Friday).
You should check out this place with your kids if they’re interested in astronomy or science!
Conclusion
We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about these fun things to do in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. If you have any other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! We would love to hear from you.
