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