El Dorado Location

In This Site

Historic Walking Tour

A great way to get a little exercise, and a history lesson at the same time, is to take a downtown El Dorado walking tour. You’ll literally step back in time as you stroll the shady streets observing the classic architecture and soaking up the ambience of “Hamburger Row,” once called “El Dorado’s Broadway.” You’ll wind up at the John Newton House, which serves today as headquarters of the South Arkansas Historical Foundation and site of the annual Mayhaw Festival.

And if this walk just whets your appetite for local history, take the short drive to Smackover and visit the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources – it even features a reproduction of a street scene during the Boomtown days.

1. Union County Court House
Court House Square Built from 1927 – 28 Greek Revival by Mann & Stern architects of Little Rock National Register: 1983
2. El Dorado Confederate Monument
Main Street at Washington Avenue Courthouse Square Erected in 1910 Designer Unknown
3. Masonic Temple
106/108 North Washington Avenue Built in 1924 Art Deco by Charles Watt, architect
4. B. W. Reeves & Co.
116 North Washington Avenue Site occupied by Sheppard & Gardner Accountants 1879 to 1982 (in business 103 years!)
5. Bank of Commerce Building
200 North Washington Avenue Built in 1919 Neo-Classic by unknown architect National Register of Historic Places, 1982
6. Exchange Bank/Lion Oil Building
Washington Avenue at Oak Street (now First Financial Centre) Built from 1926 – 27 Venetian Gothic with Art Deco accents by Mann & Stern of Little Rock National Register of Historic Places, 1986
7. Municipal Building/City Hall
204 North West Avenue Built from 1927 – 28 Art Deco by Mann & Stern of Little Rock National Register of Historic Places, 1986
8. First Baptist Church
200 West Main Street Built in 1922 Romanesque Revival by Dougherty & Garner, Nashville
9. 1905 Junior College Building
(South Arkansas Community College Administration Building) 300 South West Avenue Built from 1904 to 1905 Neoclassical Revival by architect Charles Thompson, aided by Rev. McKinzie National Register of Historic Places, 1978
10. Presbyterian Cemetery
400 block of South Washington Avenue Established in 1845 burials ceased in 1900
11. Hamburger Row
400 through 500 blocks of South Washington Avenue Actual operation for only about 9 months in 1921
12. Rialto Theatre
117 East Cedar Street Built in 1929 Classical Revival by Kolben, Hunter & Boyd National Register of Historic Places, 1986
13. First United Methodist Church
201 South Hill Avenue Built in 1922 Classical Revival designed by UMC regional offices
14. United States Post Office/Federal Building
101 South Jackson Avenue Built in 1931 Classical Revival by James Wetmore
15. First Presbyterian Church
300 East Main Street Built in 1926 Gothic Revival by R. H. Hunt & Associates National Register of Historical Places, 1991
16. John Newton House
510 North Jackson Avenue Built in 1849 by John Newton National Register of Historic Places, 1974

Christopher Homes of El Dorado, Inc.
1323 W. 5th St.
El Dorado, AR 71730
(870) 862-9711
eld@christopherhomesofarkansas.org

Manager: Gail Vaughn-Dunn

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