WELCOME!
The Washington County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 with the mission to discover, preserve, and celebrate the history of Washington County, Arkansas, and to share that heritage with others.
To carry out this mission, the Society manages and maintains historic properties and sponsors activities such as the annual Battle of Fayetteville observance, Heritage School, walking tours of historic Fayetteville, Statehood Day, and Diverse Settlers programs. It also collaborates with other local and state organizations to identify and maintain historic sites.
The WCHS manages several significant historical properties including the Headquarters House Museum, the Law Office of Gov. Archibald Yell, and the Ridge House. Surrounding Headquarters House are gardens established by the Tebbetts family who built the house before the Civil War. All Society properties are open to the public during limited hours.Tours for both groups and individuals are easily scheduled.
Marian Tebbetts Banes book published
The Washington County Historical Society has published a new edition of Marian Tebbetts Banes, A Memoir, an account of the life of the Jonas Tebbetts family who in the 1850s built and resided in the house located at 118 E. Dickson in Fayetteville, AR. The structure, though damaged by the Civil War and more than 100 years old, still stands and is known today as Headquarters House. 
Marian, the first daughter of Jonas and Matilda Tebbetts, was born in 1949 and spent her early years at the Tebbetts house. Her memoir begins with the story of Jonas coming to Arkansas around 1840, beginning a law practice, and marrying Matilda. It continues with anecdotes about the house, her parents and siblings, and their experiences living in Fayetteville during the Civil War. To supplement her own memories, she relies on the extensive papers of Jonas Tebbetts, who became a prominent lawyer, judge, and politician known for his loathing of slavery.
Marian’s memoir is a rich source of information about the history of Headquarters House as well as how a pro-Union family survived the war in a community with largely Confederate sympathies. She wrote the story when she was in her late 80s. A pencil note at the end of the original manuscript reports her ill health and an intention to elaborate further on the story “later, if possible.” The date is May 11, 1940; Marian Tebbetts Banes died July 27, 1943, at age 94.
Marian Tebbetts Banes, A Memoir is available through the WCHS Bookstore for $15; shipping is an additional $5.
Yesterdays guide now available
A popular walking tour guide for the Washington-Willow Historic District in Fayetteville is now available for sale - and sales have been brisk! Yesterdays: A Walk Through the Washington-Willow Historic District was first published in 1983 by the WCHS. Researched and written by Carolyn Lewis Newbern, the book included sketches by the late Helen Finger Leflar. Gary Coover of Rollston Press is publishing the updated book, with the help of Newbern, who has rigorously researched changes in the district over the past 43 years. The Leflar family has generously shared more illustrations by Helen Leflar.
The new version covers more than 90 historic properties in 140 pages with photographs and brief histories of each property. It will be available both as a paperback book and in Kindle format. A map keyed to each property serves as a guide to a walking tour of the district. Copies are available through the WCHS Bookstore for $10 plus shipping.
54th Annual ice cream social
Despite the late August heat, an ice-cream-loving crowd came out for the 2026 Ice Cream Social on August 15.
Tours
Group and Individual
The historic Headquarters House and Gardens are open to the public. Both group and individual tours can easily be scheduled. Call the WCHS office at (479) 521-2970 to make tour arrangements.
Membership
Join Today
Become a member of the Washington County Historical Society today! For the Member Application form, go to "Join" in the menu bar of this website.
You can upgrade your WCHS membership to Explorer Level or above ($100 or more) and receive free access to 1,380 Museums & Cultural Institutions across North America. Visit North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) at www.narmassociation.org for other museums you can access for FREE or stop by the WCHS Office at 118 E. Dickson and ask for a brochure.
recognizing the enslaved people of headquarters house
The enslaved people owned by Jonas and Matilda Tebbetts will now be recognized in Headquarters House. A framed poster with brief biographies of Amy, Tom, Harris, "Unknown Male," and Betty was presented to those attending the Statehood Day Lecture on June 14. The backgrounds of the five individuals were researched by Dr. Georgena Duncan, retired history professor and dean of liberal and fine arts at Arkansas Tech University. WCHS board member Peggy Chenault proposed the poster and oversaw its production.
