This was the site of the first courthouse for Hempstead County. Hempstead County was founded on December 15, 1818. The courthouse was established in the log home of John English located along the Southwest Trail in the community of Marlbrook, just south of the modern community of Blevins, Arkansas.
Early settler, Elijah Stuart built a log tavern on this site that was located on the Southwest Trail. In 1824, the tavern served as Hempstead County's courthouse when the county seat moved to Washington. James Black served Hempstead County in many capacities and conducted court business at Stuart's tavern on many occasions. Today the site is the location of the First Baptist Church of Washington. This property is privately owned and not affiliated with Historic Washington State Park.
One of the oldest Federal-style buildings standing in Arkansas, the 1836 Courthouse was the first proper courthouse in Hempstead County. It hosted one of the founding members of the Arkansas Grand Lodge, Mt. Horeb Lodge No. 4. In 1864, the county courthouse housed a special session of the Confederate General Assembly, following the government’s flight from Little Rock. After county business moved to the new 1874 Courthouse, the structure served as a schoolhouse for the next 40 years. In 1929, an effort was made to preserve the structure as a historic site, as it is today.This building is available on guided tours.
The 1874 Courthouse replaced the 1836 Courthouse as the home of Hempstead County’s government, serving in that capacity until the county seat moved to Hope in 1939. This Italianate brick building housed the county court upstairs, with the offices of the county officials downstairs. This building is the Visitor Center for Historic Washington State Park and free admission to all visitors when open Tuesday--Sunday from 8am--5pm. Exhibits, park information, gift shop, and restrooms are located at this building.
In 1939 the county seat of Hempstead County was moved to Hope, Arkansas. The Art Deco building was officially presented to county officials on April 30, 1940. The construction of the building was funded in part by federal money from the Public Works Administration. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 and was used as the main offices of the county until May 2022.
On December 20, 2017, Hempstead County signed a purchase agreement with Farmers Bank and Trust to purchase their bank building in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building would become the new courthouse of the county. The building went through extensive renovations and the grand opening of the courthouse was celebrated on May 19, 2022.
This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.
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Hempstead County was established on December 15, 1818 and was one of the original five counties of Arkansas. Visit the sites of all of the courthouse of Hempstead County.
