The great outdoors of Arkansas meets African-American and Native American history in Pocahontas, which takes its name from the Native American woman famous for her association with the colonial town of Jamestown. Pocahontas straddles the banks of the Black River. The Osage tribe originally occupied the west bank while the east bank was home to the Quapaw people. The city started as a Michigamea settlement, a tribe that served as a mediator between the Osage and Quapaw people.
Start your visit in Historic Downtown Pocahontas, a 17-block area lined with Victorian-era landmarks, such as the Old Randolph County Courthouse. Join a tour of the district’s haunted buildings to learn about infamous killers and brutal massacres that took place in the area. See the more than 60 quilts that adorn the downtown buildings and make up the Randolph County Quilt Trail. Browse art galleries, handicraft stores and jewelers.
Learn about the history of Randolph Country via interactive exhibits at the Randolph County Heritage Museum. Examine photography and literature exhibits at the Eddie Mae Herron Center, which strives to highlight over 200 years of African-American culture.
On sunny days, join the locals as they enjoy the city’s green spaces, such as Alexander Park where there are picnic sites and children’s play areas. Relax on the riverbanks at Black River Overlook Park and look for its statue of Pocahontas and the Century Wall, a memorial decorated with the faces of influential 20th-century Americans. Stroll along the Civil War River Walk Memorial Trail to spot Civil War markers.
Sports enthusiasts will find plenty to keep them busy in Pocahontas. Try your luck fishing for bass and crappie at Baltz Lake and Hamil Creek or play a round of golf at Rolling Hills Country Club.
Just a 20-minute drive from downtown Pocahontas is Davidsonville Historic State Park, a camping and recreational area set around Trappers Lake. Also nearby is Maynard Pioneer Museum and Park, which has barbecue sites and a museum home to 17th-century antiques.
Pocahontas is about a 2-hour drive from Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee. These are good places to rent a car and start an exploration of the United States’ deep south.
