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Sophia Sawyer began her educational work as a missionary to the Cherokee. She followed John Ridge from Georgia to present day Oklahoma. Here she established a school in John Ridge's house to teach Cherokee children. After John Ridge's assignation by rival Native Americans, Sawyer moved to Fayetteville, AR with Sarah Ridge. This move, while due&nbsp;in part to her loyalty to Sarah Ridge, took place because Sawyer&nbsp;feared for her safety because of her association with the Ridge family. It did not take long after Sophia Sawyer founded the Fayetteville Female Seminary for it to become influential in the community. The school, in contrast to local norms, was open to&nbsp;both Cherokee and white students. Classed went for five week semesters and cost $8 per&nbsp;semester. The school had its own dormitory that the students could stay at if they choose or they could stay with local prominent families. The curriculum included Music, literature, French, and emboridery. At the school's peak, over 100 students were enrolled. However, the Civil War caused the school to shut down. After the Battle of Prairie Grove, the school was used as a hospital and then burned by Confederate troops. The legacy of the school lived on, however. When the time came for Arkansas to determine the location of the state's land-grant university (which became the University of Arkansas), Fayetteville's reputation as a community that valued education, due in large part to the Female Seminary, was the determining factor in in the university being placed in Fayetteville.

This historical marker can be found on the north side of West Mountain Street near the intersection with Locust Ave 

Miss Sophia Sawyer: Founder of the Fayetteville Female Seminary

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Encyclopedia of Arkansas article on Sophia Sawyer

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Encyclopedia of Arkansas article on the Fayetteville Female Seminary. 

Sophia Sawyer, a former missionary teacher among the Cherokee, founded the Fayetteville Female Seminary in 1839. The school originated with classes given by Sawyer to the children of Major Ridge, a Cherokee leader who was murdered by other Cherokee owing to his support of the Treaty of New Echota which led to the Trail of Tears. Sawyer also began teaching the children of prominent families which led to the donation of this land for the purpose of a school for women. By 1854, the school had over a hundred students but that year also saw the death of its founder. The school continued for another six years and was incorporated by the state but closed at the outbreak of the Civil War. 

Fayetteville Female Seminary (1839-1860)

This walking tour starts downtown and includes landmarks such as the Old Post Office, the Walker-Stone House, and Old Bank of Fayetteville Building. The tour also includes the former home of Sarah Bird Ridge, the widow of Cherokee leader John Ridge who was murdered by other Cherokee for his support of the 1835 Treaty of New Echota. After several historic buildings and homes in the downtown area, the tour includes the Clinton House Museum, the Frisco Depot, and the Washington County Historical Society.

The building is located among green space that is technically a city park and maintained by the city. The park includes gardens and boulders and is popular with retirees as well as families with young children. The building remains one of the central features of town square and was designed to&nbsp;appear as one-story but actually includes three stories. The front facade includes eight granite steps and cast-iron ornamental lamp posts as well as brick and limestone arches around the window and door openings.&nbsp;

Constructed in 1911 at a cost of 1911, this building served as Fayetteville's post office until 1963. The building includes limestone arches and features elements of the neoclassical and Renaissance Revival styles of the 18th and 19th centuries. An urban renewal plan for the city in the early 1970s almost sealed the fate of this historic building, but preservationists convinced city leaders to spare the building. In the decades that followed, this building was the home of several restaurants and retailers. In July 2018, Mike Arnold acquired the building for $2.8 million. 

Fayetteville Old Post Office

The building serves as a fine example of the&nbsp;Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival styles of architecture that could be found in many turn-of-the-century bank and commercial buildings. Those who are interested can discern some architectural details in the cast-iron rosettes and the interior moldings within the building&nbsp;and the terra&nbsp;cotta on the exterior.&nbsp;

Constructed in 1889, this building was home to the Bank of Fayetteville which was chartered the previous year. In 1905, the bank received a national charter and three years later it merged with First National Bank which had been established the previous year in Fayetteville. The Great Depression led to reorganization as the bank merged with Citizens Bank which was located on Block Street. At that time, this property was vacant and became home to many businesses who rented office space in the former bank building. The building was not well-maintained in the second half of the 20th century and was nearly demolished in the 1980s but saved thanks to the efforts of preservationists and developers. The current Bank of Fayetteville which is located across the street was founded in 1980. 

Old Bank of Fayetteville Building

David Walker became one of the first justices in the Arkansas Supreme Court. The Stone family operated a grocery that expanded to include hardware and furniture. Amanda Stone bore seven children, including Benjamin Stone whose son Edward Durrell Stone became a leading architect in the region. The Stones were leading citizens and supporters of the Fayetteville Female Seminary. Their daughter Mary was the final woman to graduate from the Seminary in 1860.&nbsp;

This historic Fayetteville home was constructed in 1847 for the attorney, judge, and state political leader David Walker. Local business owner Steven Stone acquired the property three years later. On October 3, 1864, the west side of the home was hit by cannon fire that came from Confederate lines as they attempted to thwart the Union advance into this part of Arkansas. The historic home fell into disrepair during the mid-20th century when it was divided into four apartments, but the building was restored by one of Stone's grandsons in the 1970s and is now the location of a local law office. 

Walker-Stone House

<div>John Ridge along with his father, Major Ridge, and a cousin Elias C. Boudinot signed the Treaty of New Echota believing that it was their best option as more and more American settlers entered their&nbsp;tribal homeland and the federal government refused to intercede. These men hoped other Cherokee leaders would accept their perspective and encourage other tribal members to see the decision to move to federal lands in what is now Oklahoma as their best option.&nbsp;&nbsp; The majority of Cherokees never accepted the Treaty but were forced by its terms to move in 1838 and 1839 on what became known as the Trail of Tears. Some 4,000 Cherokees died after being forcibly removed from their homes and during the trek to Indian Territory. As a result, there was much anger directed toward&nbsp;the Ridge family who had moved in 1837. On June 22, 1839, a group killed John Ridge, Major Ridge, and Boudinot.&nbsp;</div>

The oldest remaining house in the city of Fayetteville, this was the home of Sarah Ridge, the wife of John Ridge, a controversial Cherokee leader who made the fateful decision to sign the Treaty of New Echota in 1835 which led to the forced relocation of many other Cherokee from Georgia to Oklahoma.The Ridge family, which also included Elias Boudinot, faced hostility due to their signing the treaty. Following the assignation of her husband by other Native peoples who opposed the treaty, Sarah Ridge lived in this home. The property was subdivided and rented out for many years in the 20th century. The home was in such disrepair in the 1960s that it would have been demolished had it not been for preservationists and the Washington County Historical Society. The Society acquired the building in 1971 and conducted an archaeological study in conjunction with the University of Arkansas Museum Collections with the goal to preserve both the history of the home as well as the physical building.

Sarah Bird Northup Ridge House

At one bedroom and 1800 square feet, this unassuming house in
Fayetteville, Arkansas holds a special place in history. Not only did a future
United States President and Secretary of State call it their first home, they
were married right in the living room. Bill Clinton took Hillary Rodham’s hand
in marriage seventeen years before he would be elected President. Visit the
house that served as the backdrop for that day in October of 1975. You’ll see
much more than just a well-preserved and restored home in the beautiful Ozark
mountains. Witness rarely seen memorabilia of Clinton’s early political career,
including his campaigns for US House of Representatives and Arkansas Attorney
General and study some of Clinton’s earliest political speeches, showcasing his
unique style that would eventually be discovered by millions around the globe.
View a faithful replica of Hillary’s wedding dress, and follow a timeline to
put their Fayetteville years in perspective. Peruse our gift shop, discovering
books, mementos, and more for a keepsake of your trip and be just steps away
from the University of Arkansas campus where the Clinton’s taught at the Law
School.

This Fayetteville house was the first home of Bill and Hillary Clinton and now serves as a museum that preserves the history of one of the most powerful unions in politics. The couple were married in the living of the home which now includes exhibits drawn from the museum's collection of memorabilia from Bill’s early political career. The museum includes exhibits related to the early lives of both Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham, as well as information about Bill Clinton's time as governor and his two terms as President. One of the highlights of the museum tour, guests can smell the roses in the First Ladies Garden featuring favorite flowers of all the First Ladies.

Clinton House Museum

Before railroads arrived in the early 1880s, Northwest Arkansas was largely isolated. This situation changed when the town's first depot built c.1882. Fayetteville's size and the fact that it was the location of the University of Arkansas (founded 1871) made the town a logical choice for the railroad. The town was also able to raise enough funds to outbid other communities. Unfortunately, the very first depot burned down in 1897 but the original Frisco depot was constructed in its place.&nbsp; By the early 1920s, the Fayette City Council wanted a revamped train station. The 1897 depot was unattractive to them and not big enough for the growing town and university. However, the increasing use of personal vehicles caused a big drop in passenger ticket sales, which prompted the railroad to decrease the size of the new depot. Railroad usage decreased even further after World War II, as airplane and car travel overtook passenger rail travel. Passenger service officially ended on September 18, 1965. Chipotle moved into the building in 2011.

Now home to a Chipotle restaurant, the Frisco Depot is a historic train station originally built by the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway in 1897 and completely rebuilt in 1925 in the Spanish Revival style, which is unique for the city. Though it no longer functions as a depot, the building still retains its historic appearance and serves as a reminder to the heyday of railroading in Fayetteville. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.  

Frisco Depot

The Walton Arts Center Council formed in 1986, six years before this facility was completed. The initial purpose of the Council was to support the construction of the Walton Arts Center. The initial construction was funded by way of a $5 million dollar gift from Sam Walton, numerous donations from other private donors, and a city-wide tax. The location chosen for the Center was the corner of Dickson Street and North School Avenue. This placed the center at the heart of downtown Fayetteville, and close to the University of Arkansas, making it an ideal location. Construction began in 1990 and the complex was completed in 1992. The primary facilities in the center include Baum Walker Hall, a presidium stage ideal for major theatrical productions or musical groups. The smaller, Black box style Star Theatre has a unique set-up and can be utilized in many different ways. Touring art can be found in the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery. The Walton Arts Center often hosts traveling and local theater productions. In 2016, the Walton Arts Center underwent a massive renovation. This expanded the performance spaces, as well as drastically overhauled the Walker Auditorium. All told, the renovation cost $23 million dollars. The Center held a grand re-opening event to celebrate both the completion of the renovations and the 25th anniversary of the facility on November 19th of 2016. The impact the Walton Arts Center has had on the surrounding area is profound. The presence of the facility inspired a sense of community that helped to revitalize the commercial district of Dickson Street. People interested in attending an event at the Walton Arts Center naturally end up on Dickson Street, bringing more attention to the local businesses there. While Dickson Street has always played host to many different commercial facilities, the presence of the Walton Arts Center seemingly breathed new life into the area. Efforts have been taken to beautify the surrounding area with murals and other art installations. Since the onset of the new millennium, the number of restaurants, bars, and other local businesses on Dickson Street has exploded. This in turn brought more people to the Walton Arts Center, closing the loop on the sympathetic relationship. Dickson Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, forever cementing it and the Walton Arts Center as significant locations.

Located on historic Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Walton Arts Center serves as a premier cultural hotspot of the city. Ever since opening in 1992, The Walton Arts Center has played host to a wide variety of events. These events range from musical acts and touring Broadway productions to cocktail parties.  The construction of the Walton Arts Center helped revitalize the economy of Dickson Street, playing a large role in the street's eventual edition to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

The Walton Arts Center

Jonas Tebbetts was born in New Hampshire and made his way to Arkansas in 1840. A lawyer, he opened a practice in Van Buren and represented Creek, Cherokee, and Choctaw Indians; he also became a judge around this time. He got married in 1847 and had three girls, all of whom were born in the Headquarters House. Tebbetts also served as a member of the General Assembly, a lawyer for State Bank, and owned land in the city.&nbsp; Tebbetts was an ardent supporter of the Union during the Civil War which, understandably, did not sit well with many Fayetteville residents. He was arrested, jailed in Fort Smith, and threatened to be executed by hanging. Confederate General Ben McCullough ordered him to be protected until after the Battle of Pea Ridge (March7-8, 1862), which occurred just northeast of the town. The Union won and McCullough was killed by a sharpshooter. His death allowed Tebbetts to be freed. Apparently, Tebbetts somehow acquired the bullet that killed McCullough and kept it for the rest of his life; it has been lost, however. Tebbetts and his family fled to Kentucky. One of his daughters later married a man from Pittsburgh. He and his wife eventually moved there as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; The house was occupied by Union Colonel M. LaRue Harrison before the Battle of Fayetteville. After he and his troops were ordered&nbsp;to return to Springfield, Confederate General W. L. Cabell occupied the house.

The Washington County Historical Society is headquartered in an 1853 home built by antebellum Judge Jonas Tebbetts. The home is called Headquarters House because it was used as such by both the Union and Confederates during the Civil War. When you walk into the small museum and gift shop, you can see the damage of a miniball that was fired during the Civil War Battle of Fayetteville. 

The Society offers group tours of the house and grounds as well as tours of the 1830s Archibald Yell Law Office, which was relocated here in the 1990s. In addition to the tours, the Society publishes a quarterly historical publication called Flashback and regularly conducts research using facilities in the region (it itself is not a research facility). The Society hosts a number of events throughout the year as well as public programming such as lectures. 

Walking Tour of Fayetteville Arkansas

Fayetteville Female Seminary (1839-1860)

Introduction

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Backstory and Context

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