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.
WCHS Annual Meeting - October 4, 2026
The Washington County Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 1 to 3PM. The location will again be the Bailey Center at Mount Sequoyah, 150 North Skyline Drive in Fayetteville. Following lunch, the highlight of the program will be recognition of the Distinguished Citizens for 2026: Jan Leflar, Lindsley Armstrong Smith, and Stephen A. Smith. The program will include a short business meeting to approve officers for the coming year.
All WCHS members and guests are welcome. Check back here for an upcoming post on ticket information. At that time, tickets will be available for purchase online at Annual Meeting Tickets.
Yesterdays guide now available
A popular walking tour guide for the Washington-Willow Historic District in Fayetteville is now available for sale. 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 collaborated on the new edition with Newbern, who has researched changes in the district over the past 43 years. Helen Leflar's family has generously shared more of her illustrations.
This edition covers more than 90 historic properties in 140 pages with photographs and brief histories of each property. It is available both as a paperback 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.
returning this fall - "The madness of edgar allan poe: a love story"
This fall WCHS teams up again with Arkansas Classical Theatre in its presentation of "The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe." The production will again be staged at Headquarters House (118 E. Dickson) and will run September 25-October 31. The house provides a unique setting for the David Rice play, which was a major sold-out hit in fall 2025.
Tickets can be purchased through this link: Madness of Edgar Allan Poe
The play is described as "...an inventive, immersive theatrical experience that weaves Poe's life, loves, losses, and legendary tales into one unforgettable evening. Moving between the man and the macabre stories that made him immortal, the play invites audiences into a world where memory and madness blur - and where Poe's own tragic love story may be the most haunting tale of all."
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.
