Joiner ArkansasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Joiner, Arkansas.
1. White's Mercantile
LOCAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
White's Mercantile is a highly-rated shopping destination in Joiner that offers visitors a unique local retail experience. The establishment has earned a perfect 5.0 rating from visitors, making it one of the top attractions in the area. Visitors can browse through a variety of merchandise while experiencing authentic Arkansas charm.
2. Hampson Archeological Museum State Park
NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park showcases artifacts from the Nodena site, a 15-acre Native American village that existed from 1400 to 1650 AD. The museum houses an internationally renowned collection of pottery and tools created by this sophisticated Mississippi Period farming culture. Visitors can explore exhibits that tell the story of this ancient civilization that once thrived in what is now Northeast Arkansas.
3. Johnny Cash House
MUSIC LEGEND'S CHILDHOOD HOME
The Johnny Cash House is the restored childhood home of the legendary musician, located in the Historic Dyess Colony. Visitors can walk through the modest five-room farmhouse where Cash grew up and experience the environment that influenced his music and life. The house forms part of a larger historic site that tells the story of the Dyess Colony, a Great Depression era agricultural resettlement community.
4. Thorncrown Chapel
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS MASTERPIECE
Thorncrown Chapel is a stunning glass and wood structure nestled in a beautiful woodland setting that has become one of Arkansas's top attractions. Standing 48 feet tall with over 6,000 square feet of glass across 425 windows, the chapel creates the feeling of being immersed in the surrounding forest. This architectural marvel is a popular location for weddings and offers free admission to visitors during regular operating hours.
5. Fordyce Bathhouse
HISTORIC SPA BUILDING
Fordyce Bathhouse serves as the visitor center for Hot Springs National Park and offers a glimpse into the elegant spa culture of the early 20th century. The meticulously restored bathhouse features marble, stained glass, statuary, and vintage spa equipment across its three floors. Visitors can explore exhibits detailing the history of the hot springs and experience the grandeur of this bathhouse that operated from 1915 to 1962.
6. Bathhouse Row
HISTORIC SPA DISTRICT
Bathhouse Row consists of eight historic bathhouse buildings along Central Avenue in Hot Springs National Park that showcase the city's golden era as a spa destination. These magnificent structures, built between 1892 and 1923, represent a variety of architectural styles from Renaissance Revival to Spanish Colonial. Today, visitors can tour the buildings, which have been repurposed as museums, art galleries, breweries, and still-functioning spas.
7. Crater of Diamonds State Park
PUBLIC DIAMOND MINE
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only public diamond mine in the United States where visitors can search for and keep any diamonds they find. Since 1906, over 75,000 diamonds have been discovered in the park, including white, brown, and yellow varieties. Beyond diamond hunting, the park features a museum, water playground, and a campground with 52 sites for overnight visitors.
8. Hot Springs National Park
THERMAL SPRINGS OASIS
Hot Springs National Park centers around 47 natural hot springs that flow from the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain. Established to protect these geothermal waters, the park combines natural resources with historic bathhouses dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can hike scenic trails, tour historic buildings, and even experience the thermal waters through traditional bathing or modern spa treatments.
9. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
CIVIL RIGHTS LANDMARK
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site preserves the school that became the battleground of the civil rights movement in 1957 when nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, integrated the formerly all-white school. The site includes a visitor center with exhibits detailing the desegregation crisis and its significance in American history. Ranger-led tours provide access to the still-functioning high school, an impressive example of Gothic Revival architecture.
10. William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY CENTER
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum houses the largest collection of presidential papers and artifacts in U.S. history, documenting the life and work of the 42nd president. The striking modern building features a full-scale replica of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, along with interactive exhibits chronicling the Clinton administration. The 30-acre presidential park includes a restored 1899 railroad bridge converted into a pedestrian walkway with views of the Arkansas River.
11. Buffalo National River
SCENIC WATERWAY PARADISE
Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles through the Ozark Mountains as America's first national river, protected since 1972. The river features dramatic limestone bluffs up to 500 feet tall, clear waters, and over 300 caves within its watershed. Visitors can enjoy floating, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing in this pristine natural setting that showcases the best of Arkansas's outdoor beauty.
12. Historic Dyess Colony
NEW DEAL ERA COMMUNITY
Historic Dyess Colony preserves a Great Depression-era agricultural resettlement community established in 1934 as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal. The colony includes the restored boyhood home of music legend Johnny Cash, whose family was among the 500 impoverished farm families relocated to the experimental cooperative community. Visitors can tour the administration building with exhibits explaining the colony's history and significance, as well as Cash's modest family home.
13. Pickthorne Dining Room
LOCAL SOUTHERN CUISINE
Pickthorne Dining Room offers authentic Southern cuisine in a charming setting in Joiner, serving as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The restaurant specializes in farm-to-table dishes that showcase the agricultural bounty of the Arkansas Delta region. Diners can enjoy classic comfort foods prepared with traditional recipes that have been passed down through generations.
14. Arkansas State Capitol
NEOCLASSICAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING
The Arkansas State Capitol is a stunning neoclassical building completed in 1915 that houses the state's government and resembles the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The building features marble from Vermont, columns from Colorado, and a magnificent gold-leaf cupola that rises 230 feet above ground level. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the public areas, including legislative chambers, historic exhibits, and commemorative statues on the beautifully landscaped grounds.
15. Delta Heritage Trail State Park
RAILS-TO-TRAILS ADVENTURE
Delta Heritage Trail State Park is a developing rails-to-trails project that will eventually span 84.5 miles, built on an abandoned railroad line in eastern Arkansas. The trail passes through a diverse range of habitats including hardwood forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands along the Mississippi River Delta. Visitors can hike, bike, or observe wildlife on completed sections of the trail while experiencing the natural beauty and cultural history of this unique region.