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.
Headquarters House: vacation Hours
The WCHS Headquarters House Museum will have "vacation hours" during June. This means we will have limited opening times for a couple of weeks. The house will be open on Tuesday, June 2, and Wednesday, June 3, during regular times of 12 noon to 3 PM. For June 4 and June 9th through the 11th, the museum will be closed for visitors. If possible, we will try to respond to interest in special tours; please call the Headquarters House Museum at (479) 521-2970.
Fayetteville history in matchbook covers
It's the signal that an era passed - when everyday items like matchbook covers make up a collection in the state library. Thanks to Ron Robinson of Little Rock - who was quite the collector - an assortment of matchbooks from establishments in Fayetteville back in the day are now housed in the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies Central Arkansas Library System. A glance through the 50 or so matchbook covers can pull up a lot of memories. Here are a few examples
headquarters House Gardens spotlighted
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette featured the gardens and Master Gardeners of Headquarters House on May 27. Photographer J.T. Wampler captured Geri Alvis (top photo) and Li Liang (below) in pictures showing off the gardens - and the work that the Master Gardeners contribute to the historic gardens.
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.
