McDougal ArkansasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near McDougal, Arkansas.
1. Edna Cooper Memorial Park
LOCAL RECREATION SPOT
Edna Cooper Memorial Park serves as the city park for McDougal, located conveniently on US 62. This small community park features a shaded walking trail and playground for visitors of all ages. The park offers a peaceful retreat for locals and travelers passing through the area.
2. Thorncrown Chapel
ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
Thorncrown Chapel is a stunning glass chapel nestled in the Ozark woods that has become one of Arkansas's most celebrated architectural wonders. The chapel's design features 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass, creating a breathtaking connection between the interior space and the surrounding forest. Visitors from around the world come to experience the chapel's serene atmosphere and award-winning design.
3. Fordyce Bathhouse
HISTORIC SPA BUILDING
Fordyce Bathhouse stands as the grandest bathhouse on Hot Springs' famous Bathhouse Row, now serving as the visitor center for Hot Springs National Park. The meticulously restored facility offers visitors a glimpse into the luxurious spa culture of the early 20th century with its stained glass, marble, and ceramic tile features. Park rangers provide informative tours highlighting the building's history and the therapeutic bathing practices that made Hot Springs famous.
4. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
CIVIL RIGHTS LANDMARK
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorates the 1957 desegregation crisis where nine African American students braved angry mobs to attend the previously all-white school. The site includes the still-functioning high school, a visitor center with compelling exhibits on the civil rights struggle, and ranger-led tours that bring this pivotal moment in American history to life. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of the Little Rock Nine and gain deeper understanding of their courage and the ongoing fight for equality.
5. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
WORLD-CLASS ART COLLECTION
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art houses a magnificent collection of American masterpieces spanning five centuries, all located in a stunning architectural marvel designed by Moshe Safdie. The museum's buildings, nestled around spring-fed ponds, are connected by scenic trails adorned with outdoor sculptures throughout its 120-acre woodland setting. Beyond its impressive permanent collection, Crystal Bridges offers temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and houses the Bachman-Wilson House, a Frank Lloyd Wright design relocated to the property.
6. Bathhouse Row
HISTORIC SPA DISTRICT
Bathhouse Row features eight grand bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923, showcasing various architectural styles from Renaissance Revival to Spanish Colonial. These historic structures once served thousands seeking healing in the natural thermal waters and now house museums, art galleries, a brewery, and modern spa facilities. Visitors can stroll the Grand Promenade behind the bathhouses to enjoy the historic district and scenic views of Hot Springs National Park.
7. Johnny Cash Boyhood Home
MUSIC LEGEND'S ROOTS
The Johnny Cash Boyhood Home preserves the modest house where the legendary musician lived from ages three to eighteen as part of the New Deal-era Dyess Colony. Meticulously restored to its 1930s-1940s appearance, the home contains original and period-appropriate furnishings that provide insight into Cash's formative years during the Great Depression. Tours of the property offer visitors a deeper understanding of how Cash's early experiences in this farming community influenced his music and perspective.
8. Arkansas State Capitol
ARCHITECTURAL GOVERNMENT CENTER
The Arkansas State Capitol is a stunning neoclassical building constructed between 1899 and 1915, featuring marble from Vermont, Colorado, and Alabama throughout its impressive interior. The grounds surrounding the capitol building host numerous monuments commemorating important historical events and figures, including the Little Rock Nine, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Medal of Honor Memorial. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the building to see the House and Senate chambers, the governor's reception room, and the old Supreme Court chamber.
9. Trail of Tears Park
HISTORICAL MEMORIAL SITE
Trail of Tears Park spans 4.5 landscaped acres dedicated to memorializing the tragic forced relocation of Native American tribes during the 1830s. The park features a stone sculpture and plaque honoring those who suffered along the Trail of Tears, creating a space for reflection and remembrance. Native Arkansas trees, grasses, and other indigenous plant species populate the grounds, representing the natural environment that travelers on the trail would have encountered during their journey.
10. Arkansas Governor's Mansion
STATELY EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE
The Arkansas Governor's Mansion is an impressive red brick Greek Revival structure with white columns that has served as the official residence of Arkansas governors since 1950. The mansion features beautifully maintained grounds and gardens that provide an elegant setting for this historic building. Tours of the mansion offer visitors a glimpse into the state's political history and the architectural significance of this stately home.
11. Crater of Diamonds State Park
DIG FOR REAL DIAMONDS
Crater of Diamonds State Park offers visitors the unique opportunity to search for real diamonds in the world's only diamond-bearing site accessible to the public. The 37-acre plowed field is the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater where more than 33,000 diamonds have been found since the first discovery in 1906. Visitors can keep any diamonds or other minerals they find, making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience for treasure hunters of all ages.
12. Pea Ridge National Military Park
CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD
Pea Ridge National Military Park preserves the site of one of the most pivotal Civil War battles west of the Mississippi River, fought on March 7-8, 1862. The park's 4,300 acres include a 7-mile self-guided tour road, hiking trails, and a visitor center with informative exhibits about the battle and its significance. The well-preserved battlefield allows visitors to understand how the Union victory at Pea Ridge helped secure Missouri for the Union and changed the course of the war in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
13. Buffalo National River
PRISTINE WATERWAY ADVENTURE
Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles through the breathtaking Ozark Mountains as America's first national river, protected since 1972. The crystal-clear waterway carves its way through massive limestone bluffs, creating one of the most scenic canoeing, kayaking, and fishing destinations in the mid-South. Visitors can explore over 100 miles of hiking trails, discover hidden waterfalls, spot abundant wildlife, and camp under star-filled skies in this natural paradise.
14. Old State House Museum
ARKANSAS'S FIRST CAPITOL
The Old State House Museum occupies the oldest standing state capitol building west of the Mississippi, a Greek Revival masterpiece completed in 1842. This historic structure served as Arkansas's capitol until 1911 and now houses fascinating exhibits on Arkansas history, political figures, and cultural heritage. The museum's collection includes everything from inaugural gowns of governors' wives to artifacts from pivotal moments in the state's development, providing visitors a comprehensive look at Arkansas's rich history.
15. Blanchard Springs Caverns
UNDERGROUND NATURAL WONDER
Blanchard Springs Caverns is a spectacular living cave system nestled in the Ozark National Forest, featuring magnificent formations that continue to grow and change. Guided tours take visitors through multiple levels of the cavern system, showcasing massive rooms adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones created over thousands of years. Above ground, the site offers hiking trails, a natural spring, and a mountain stream, making it a complete natural destination for outdoor enthusiasts.