- About Washington
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 he first seat of justice for the county was in the vicinity
of Marlbrook where a post office was established on February 23, 1820,
as Hempstead Courthouse, Territory of Arkansas. In 1824 the town of Washington
was founded and became the county seat; the post office also moving and
thus, the Washington post office is the oldest continuous post office in
the State of Arkansas. The Southwest Trail, the main road through the Territory
to Texas, led through the town. Washington served as a way station for
adventurers on their way to fight in the Texas Revolution in 1836, for
the gathering of troops for the War with Mexico in 1846, and as the Confederate
Capitol of Arkansas in the years 1863-1865 after Federal troops had captured
Little Rock. Washington's most famous blacksmith, James Black, is credited
with forging the original Bowie knife for Jim Bowie.Washington was the
center of a cotton planter aristocracy which welded great political power
during the early years of Arkansas history. Here, the culture of the Old
South flourished for a time in a pioneer western setting, and Washington
became a town where the rough frontiersman shook hands with polished gentlemen.
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- oday, Washington is being restored as an historic town
by the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation and the Arkansas Department
of Parks and Tourism. Attractions include furnished antebellum homes of
Greek Revival architecture, printing and gun museums, and a reconstruction
of the blacksmith shop of James Black. Tours can be taken every day.
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