WASHINGTON, Ark. – On Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month of October, Historic Washington State Park will host activities, events and a special exhibit. The weekend programming will take place throughout the streets and buildings of the park, 103 Franklin St., Washington. Various admission fees apply.
The special exhibit, “The Path Home,” will run through Nov. 4 in one of the original homes from 1836, the Block-Catts House. The exhibit will feature mourning rituals from the 19th-century. Tour tickets can be purchased at the park’s visitor center.
Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14
7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saying Goodbye to Jenny
Join the grieving family at the “wake” of 16-year-old Jenny Vann, who passed away in 1866. During this re-creation, guests will be immersed in the tradition and ritual of friends and relatives visiting the home of the Vann family at the 1836 Block-Catts House. The program begins at the Candle Shop. A historic dinner will be served on Saturday evening at the Williams Tavern Restaurant. Reservations are required by Oct. 12 for the dinner. The program is $15 per person without the dinner; $35 per person with the meal.
Saturday, Oct. 14
9 a.m. – noon, Cemetery Workshop
This workshop will teach visitors how to care for and clean tombstones. The program will take place in the historic Pioneer Cemetery. Reservations are required. The workshop is $25 per person.
Saturday, Oct. 21
7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Washington After Dark
Guests will light candle lanterns and accompany an interpretive guide through selected sites in the park that have “unexplained happenings” in their history. Reservations are required. The program is $15 per person.
Saturday, Oct. 28
7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Washington After Dark: A Darker Look
Visitors will explore some of the buildings at the park to see if they can prove if they are haunted, experimenting with paranormal instruments. Reservations are required. The program is $15 per person.
Contact [email protected] or call 870-983-2684 to register for any of the October programs.
Historic Washington State Park
Historic Washington State Park, located in Washington, Arkansas, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Mondays. The park is a restoration village interpreting the historic Arkansas town in the 19th century. Daily tours are provided to over 15 historic sites and museums, such as the B.W. Edwards Weapons Museum and Blacksmith Shop. To learn more, visit HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com or call 870-983-2684.
Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Arkansas state parks and museums cover 55,006 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities, and unique historic and cultural resources. Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism and provide leadership in resource conservation. Connect with ASP on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit ArkansasStateParks.com and ArkansasStateParks.com/media to learn more.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state’s natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.