We were recently exploring downtown Springdale in Northwest Arkansas and popped into the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. I had no idea what to expect and had heard very little about this museum. I’m so glad we stopped by because this little museum really surprised me in a good way.
It might be small, but it is very well done. The exhibits are interesting, the museum feels thoughtfully put together, and I came away feeling like I had learned quite a bit about the history of the Arkansas Ozarks and the people who have lived there.
Best of all, admission is free.
If you are looking for something to do in Springdale or want to learn more about the history of the Arkansas Ozarks, the Shiloh Museum is well worth an hour or so of your time.
What You’ll See Inside the Shiloh Museum
The Shiloh Museum focuses on the history of the Arkansas Ozarks, particularly Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Washington counties.
The permanent exhibits take you through thousands of years of Ozark history, from the earliest Native American inhabitants through settlement, the Civil War, agriculture, industry and the changes that created the Northwest Arkansas we know today.
This didn’t feel like a museum filled with random old objects. The displays give you context and tell the stories of the people who lived here.
The section that showed some of the things you might have found in an Ozark log cabin during the frontier days was one of my favorites. I think kids would really enjoy seeing this, too.
There was quite a bit that I didn’t know, which is always one of my favorite things about visiting a good local history museum.
You could probably walk through fairly quickly, but plan for at least an hour. Much of the additional information was in notebooks placed throughout the exhibits, so you could read as much or as little as you wanted depending on your interest.
Don’t Miss the Historic Buildings Outside
One of the best parts of the Shiloh Museum is actually outside the main building. The museum sits on a surprisingly pretty two-acre campus with mature trees shading the walkways, gardens and several historic buildings.
The grounds are nicely maintained and are worth walking around after you finish the indoor exhibits.
There are seven historic buildings associated with the museum, ranging from the 1850s through the 1930s. We were able to go inside several of them during our visit, including the Ritter-McDonald Log Cabin, an 1850s cabin that was originally located in Elm Springs.
We also went inside Cooper Barn, a 1930s barn that contains old farm equipment, and Dr. Carter’s Office, a tiny, really tiny, 1880s building where a country doctor once practiced medicine in southern Washington County.
The Smith-Searcy House was temporarily closed during our visit. It dates to the 1870s and still stands on its original site. Today it represents the home of an upper-middle-class Springdale family during the 1940s.
Other buildings include an old general store, an outhouse and the Shiloh Meeting Hall.
Access to the historic buildings can vary, so you may not be able to go inside every building during your visit. Even so, they add a lot to the museum and are definitely worth exploring while you’re there.
Why Is It Called the Shiloh Museum?
Here’s something I didn’t know before visiting.
Before Springdale was Springdale, the little community that developed here was known as Shiloh, named for a church established in the area in the 1840s.
When the town needed a post office, Arkansas already had another Shiloh. The name Springdale was eventually chosen, and the town was officially incorporated under that name in 1878.
The museum kept the old Shiloh name as a connection to the community’s earliest days.
Is the Shiloh Museum Worth Visiting?
I think it is.
This probably isn’t an attraction that most people would plan an entire Northwest Arkansas trip around, but that’s not really the point. If you’re already spending time in Springdale, the Shiloh Museum is an easy and worthwhile stop.
It’s especially good for anyone who enjoys local history, old buildings or learning how a place developed into what it is today.
I expected to make a fairly quick walk through the museum. Instead, I found myself stopping to read things and learning quite a bit.
For a small museum, I was impressed.
Know Before You Go
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
118 W. Johnson Avenue
Springdale, Arkansas
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Always double-check the Shiloh Museum website before you go for current opening days and hours.
Admission: Free. Donations are appreciated.
The museum is located in downtown Springdale. Parking is easy. We parked on the street right outside the museum, and there’s also a parking lot across the street. It’s not a busy road, so finding a spot wasn’t an issue on the day we visited.
Allow about an hour to an hour and a half, although history lovers who like to read everything could stay longer. I also think this museum would be a good place to visit with children and we also have a guide to even more kid-friendly activities in NWA.
We have a guide to more great things to do in Northwest Arkansas that might interest you. And here is our list of even more interesting museums in Arkansas.
