Clark County Museum

The Clark County Museum was founded in 2002 by the Clark County Historical Association and is located in the Missouri Pacific Depot in Arkadelphia (Clark County). The mission statement of the museum reads in part: “The museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich and diverse history of Clark County from prehistoric times to the present. The museum is also committed to educating the public about the important people and events that have influenced the county. Artifacts that best represent the various eras in Clark County history will be displayed for preservation and educational purposes within the museum.”

The Clark County Historical Association was founded on October 30, 1972, in Arkadelphia. While members of the group desired to open a museum, they instead worked to create an archival collection of regional history records to be held in the Riley-Hickingbotham Library at Ouachita Baptist University. Other projects of the association included an annual journal, a driving tour of historic sites in the county, and various events to promote historic preservation efforts.

An effort to create a museum in the Benjamin House located on Main Street in Arkadelphia failed in 1994 when the funds required to purchase or move the structure were not gathered in time prevent to the destruction of the home. With the mid-1990s closure of the Henderson State University Museum, located in the Captain Charles Christopher Henderson House, the city lacked any historical museum. Additional efforts were organized to construct a museum to display Caddo Indian artifacts in Central Park, located between Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. While this project was unsuccessful, it did galvanize public support behind the creation of a museum. Through the efforts of the association and the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Pacific Depot in Arkadelphia was secured to house the museum.

The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway built the Arkadelphia depot in 1910, and the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917 acquired both the station and the line that passed through Arkadelphia. The depot continues to serve as a stop for the Amtrak Texas Eagle. The city owns the building.

Funding for the creation of the museum came from various state grants and the association. The museum officially opened to the public in October 2002 and was originally operated by the Clark County Historical Association. The museum board reorganized as a separate non-profit in 2023.

The museum contains exhibits that focus on the prehistory and history of Clark County, with a permanent exhibit of Native American artifacts from the Hodges Collection, owned by Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University’s Joint Educational Consortium. The entry room is dedicated to the history of railroads in Clark County, while the backroom exhibits rotate.  A caboose and salt kettle are located across the street from the museum, along with a small park and picnic area.

The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free.

For additional information:
Granade, S. Ray. “‘Our Many Projects’: Thirty Years of the Clark County Historical Association.” Clark County Historical Journal (2002): 1–31.

David Sesser
Henderson State University