The city of Batesville is the second oldest municipality in Arkansas, if you don’t include all the communities that cropped up in the early days and then disappeared. Batesville was first settled in 1810. By 1819 it was a proper town with a ferry across the White River and by 1822 the city was incorporated. Now a city with a population of just over 10,000, there’s plenty to see and do in Batesville.
You can find directions to Batesville here.
Batesville's been working hard to revitalize its historic Main Street.
The downtown district is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Melba Theater first opened as an opera house in 1875.
Melba Theater has had its ups and downs since then, but it is now a functioning movie theater and one of the centerpieces of the downtown district.
Batesville is also home to the Old Independence Regional Museum.
It preserves the history of Independence County, and it’s a fabulous place to explore.
If you’re into NASCAR or really cool cars, you can visit the Mark Martin Museum.
Batesville is set on the banks of the White River, which adds an element of natural beauty to the historic town.
If you need a bite to eat in Batesville, you can eat right on the river at Josie’s Steakhouse.
Please note, Josie’s Steakhouse has permanently closed.
No matter how you choose to spend your time in Batesville, you’ll find history on every corner.
For more old towns in Arkansas, click here. To go on a historic adventure in another part of the state, visit this town.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
