NEARPS investigates the Historic Powhatan Courthouse.

In the 1800s, this busy river port on the Black River was the chief shipping point for a large territory. In 1888, high on a hill overlooking the busy riverfront, an Italianate-style courthouse was built from bricks made on site. Dramatically, the courthouse was placed high atop the first rocky ridge at the eastern edge of the Ozarks. The two-story courthouse was erected on the foundation of the original courthouse, completed in 1873, that burned in 1885. Restored in 1970 to the architect's original plans, the Victorian courthouse is this state park's dominant feature.

A 2005 state-of-the-art renovation of the courthouse's interior was based on research, paint analysis and historical documentation.

New exhibits were recently added to the museum that tell the story of the commerce, politics, and lifestyles that shaped north Arkansas and illustrate the history of Lawrence County, mother of north Arkansas counties, from its beginning to the early years of the 20th century.

Along with the 1888 courthouse, the park features the historic Powhatan Jail, the circa 1850 Ficklin-Imboden House, circa 1887 Commercial Building and circa 1890 Powhatan Male and Female Academy, a unique two-room schoolhouse. All on the National Register of Historic Places, these structures tell the story of this important 1800s river port that was the chief shipping point for a large territory. Take a guided tour through these five buildings that tell the stories of domestic and commercial life in the 1800s here at this Black River steamboat port.

One of the historic/cultural sites within Arkansas’s state parks system of 52 parks and museums, Powhatan Historic State Park conserves and interprets the historic Powhatan site. These historic structures, ferry and steamboat landing became an Arkansas state park in 1974.

Powhatan Historic State Park is on Arkansas Highway 25 in Powhatan.

Hours of Operation

Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Tuesday through Saturday); 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. (Sunday)
Closed Monday (except Monday holidays), New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Eve through Christmas Day

For more information about Arkansas State Parks historic, heritage and cultural parks, and museums, go to: http://www.historystateparks.com/

Contact Information: P.O. Box 93
Powhatan, AR 72458; Email: powhatan@arkansas.com; 870-878-6765; ArkansasStateParks.com


This is a shot of the NEARPS team members who were present for this investigation. They are from left: Becca, Tami, Courtney, and Dana Of course, you can't forget me, Chuck, I am behind the camera !	You simply can't help but admire the awesome beauty and sheer size of this wonderful historic location. Kudos to the staff of the Powhatan Historic State Park for the care and preservation this facility has received. In the Courthouse, we experienced: male and female disembodied voices, cold spots, unexplained bangs, and unusual EMF hits.


Here you see investigator Becca experiencing a cold spot while doing an EVP question and answer session. She was accompanied by investigator Dana and Vesta, a tour guide for the park.	Cold spots are believed to be an entity drawing energy (in the form of heat) from it's surroundings in an attempt to manifest itself. They never saw anything but we did capture EVP during this time.