Morrilton Depot Museum

Operated by the Conway County Historical Preservation Association, the Morrilton Depot Museum and Genealogy Research Library explores the history of the county. It is housed in the historic Morrilton Depot, which was built by the Missouri-Pacific Railroad in 1875. The museum's exhibits touch on a variety of topics including Native American cultures and the former town of Lewisburg, which is now a neighborhood of Morrilton.

By the time the Missouri-Pacific Railroad (MPR) built the depot in 1875, Lewisburg had established itself as an important trading center. Its port on the Arkansas River, which connects to the Mississippi River, facilitated shipment of goods to New Orleans and then to far-away markets. However, the MPR decided to build its line connecting Little Rock to Fort Smith about three miles north of Lewisburg. As a result, Morrilton was born. Over the next several years, it developed as the county's most important town and became the county seat it 1883. The town was named after local resident E. J. Morrill, who donated the land on which the depot now stands.

The depot is one-story tall and features a hipped roof with red tiles. It operated until 1954 and was eventually purchased by the Conway County Historical Preservation Association, which opened the museum in 1978. The depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Downtown Merchants Association of the Morilton Chamber of Commerce. "Morrilton Railroad Station." National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. September 13, 1977. https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/CN0028-pdf.

Rolf, Carol. "History of Conway County can be found at the museum." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. August 16, 2013. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/aug/18/history-conway-county-can-be-found-museum.