WASHINGTON, Ark. – Historic Washington State Park will host an opening reception for the “Artists of Washington” exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 1:30 p.m. at the park’s 1874 Visitor Information Center, 100 SW Morrison St., Washington. Steven Carlson, an expert on local artist Effie Anderson Smith, will speak at the reception, which is free and open to the public.

The work of artists from 19th-century to present-day Washington and Hempstead county will be showcased in the “Artists of Washington” exhibit. It will feature artwork from Hempstead County residents, including Jenny Delony Rice, Mary Carrigan and Ann Bittick.

As part of the opening reception, work of Hempstead County resident, Effie Anderson Smith, will be on display for visitors to view from September 22-24. The brief showing is curated by Carlson, who is curator of the E.A. Smith Archive. It is sponsored by the Arkansas State Archives.

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.