15 Best Things to Do in White Hall (Arkansas)

The town of White Hall is located in Washington Township and Jefferson County Arkansas.

A suburb of the larger city of Pine Bluff, at the time of the last census, the town had slightly more than 5,000 residents.

Though it’s modest and full of small-town charm, it’s the county’s most rapidly developing town.

From the capital of Little Rock, White Hall is a short drive on Interstate 530, making the capital’s attractions convenient to see in short day trips.

Below are 15 of the best things to do in and around White Hall that shouldn’t be missed.

1. Crenshaw Springs Water Park

Located on Dollarway Road in White Hall, Crenshaw Springs Water Park provides water-related activities for southeast Arkansas residents looking to beat the brutal summer knockout combo of high temperature and high humidity.

The park includes all the pools, dives, slides, and splash-pads you’d expect, and there are plenty of covered seating areas within sight of the water that are great places for parents to relax and watch their kids from a safe distance.

The cost of admission is reasonable and gives guests all-day access. It’s not open year-round, so check online or give them a call before making a special trip.

2. Arkansas Railroad Museum

The railroads have played a big part in the development of Arkansas. In the beginning, they were almost exclusively responsible for transporting the state’s natural resources like cotton and timber to the manufacturing centers in the Midwest and northeast.

The Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff is the perfect place to get an in-depth insight into the railroads and the people who built and operated them.

Exhibits include a workshop where locomotives were once built, passenger car, caboose, and lots of tools and implements used by railroad men over the years.

Group tours are available, but you’ll need to call ahead to schedule them; the museum is open every day but Sunday.

3. Delta Rivers Nature Center

Located on Black Dog Road in Pine Bluff, the Delta Rivers Nature Center is the region’s most complete repository of exhibits and displays focused on the amazing natural world found in the area around White Hall.

The center includes a small zoo that’s a big hit with children, and there’s also a playground and plenty of trails leading through the center’s grounds.

Many of the center’s exhibits were designed with kids in mind, and there are plenty of hands-on interactive activities that’ll keep them interested and engaged while learning about the area’s flora and fauna.

There’s a short documentary that would be great to watch before exploring on your own.

4. Harbor Oaks Golf Club

White Hall and the surrounding area is home to its fair share of award-winning golf courses; one of the perennial favorites is Harbor Oaks Golf Club.

It’s been ranked as one of the state’s ten best courses, and depending on which tees you play from, is between 5,400 and 7,000 yards long.

Previous guests have noted that it’s particularly well-manicured and includes a good mix of treed areas, sand traps, and water hazards that make the course beautiful and challenging.

Greens fees are reasonable but fill up quickly during peak times, so if that’s when you’re planning to play, make your reservations in advance.

5. The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas

Located on Main Street in Pine Bluff, The Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas is a modern venue that’s the region’s home to all things related to the diverse world of contemporary art.

Throughout the year, they offer a number of live performances that include music, recitals, and theater. The cost of admissions is very cheap.

Nearly all the talent is made up of local citizens, and they also offer educational and instructional courses, guest speakers, and traveling displays from other regional centers.

The best way to keep abreast of what’s going on is to check the calendar of events on their website periodically.

6. Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame

Many of Arkansas’ native sons and daughters have rocketed from humble beginnings to the big time and include actors, musicians, and sports stars – to name a few.

Pine Bluff’s Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame is a one-of-a-kind place that includes exhibits on a few remarkable talents that were born and raised in the state, like Johnny Cash and John Grisham.

The hall of fame is located inside the Pine Bluff Convention center, so make sure it’s open before making a special trip.

Many of the stars highlighted are musicians, and though there are some you may not have heard of, they all have interesting and significant histories.

7. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Caldwell Hall, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

College and university campuses are great places to explore when visiting a new area. They usually have lovely grounds as well as libraries and bookstores full of clothes, hats, and books that you won’t find elsewhere.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff was founded in the 1870s and is the state’s second oldest public university.

Often referred to as ‘The Flagship of the Delta,’ it typically hosts a variety of sporting events on its campus, in addition to many inexpensive or free activities like performing arts, instructional courses, and guest speakers.

Their website lists upcoming events well in advance so check it out.

8. Bauxite Historical Association Museum

Located just down the road from White Hall off Interstate 30, the Bauxite Historical Association Museum is one of those obscure gems that’s often overlooked by visitors but is a big hit with those who take the time to check it out.

For much of its history, the town’s existence was based mainly on the nearby mining operations that supplied the ore used to produce aluminum; the museum’s exhibits offer a fascinating insight into the town’s economic and historic past.

Many of the items on display have been donated by locals and include photographs, memorabilia, and first-hand accounts of what life was like in years past.

9. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

When the nationwide desegregation order was handed down from the White House in the mid-‘50s, it sent shock waves around the country, particularly in the south where segregation had been an institution for generations.

Little Rock’s Central High School was ground zero and caught national attention when the ‘Little Rock 9’ walked past the national guard troops who’d been called in by the governor to prevent the order from being followed.

The high school is now a national historic site run by the National Parks Department. The best way to experience it to the fullest is to take a guided tour with a park employee.

10. Old State House Museum

Located in Little Rock, the Old State House Museum was the state’s first capital building and was built in the 1830s.

The museum that’s now inside the building has been front and center to some of the state’s most momentous occasions, like when it was formally admitted into the union and when its representatives declared their intention to secede from the same union in the years before the Civil War.

The museum has guides that are there to answer your questions and show you around, and it’s free to visit any time.

Some of their exhibits are permanent, and others change, so check out their website to see what’ll be on display when you’re in the area.

11. Historic Arkansas Museum

For much of its existence, Arkansas was considered a territory, and in the early years, it lay on the frontier between the civilized and uncivilized worlds.

The state’s frontier and Civil War eras are particularly rich in history, and the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock is full of galleries, displays, and interactive exhibits which are engaging for adults and children alike.

It’s possible to show yourself around, or if you’d rather take a guided tour with a docent, they’re available as well and will likely give you more bang for your buck as you’ll learn a few things you otherwise wouldn’t.

The grounds include other historic buildings as well.

12. William J. Clinton Presidential Library

The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park was officially opened in 2004 and sits on a scenic portion of Little Rock along the shores of the Arkansas River.

The library and center attract tens of thousands of visitors annually, many who come from other countries.

No expense was spared in making the library one of the most opulent examples of its kind; it’s worth a visit regardless of what you think about Bill Clinton personally.

Much of what the museum includes is based on the president’s early life. It’s located near the city’s River District, which is full of trendy shops and restaurants and is worth checking out as well.

13. Cadron Settlement Park

Conway’s Cadron Settlement Park is a historically significant and poignant place to visit for amateur historians interested in learning about the area’s Native American history.

Much of what’s on display deals with the ‘Trail of Tears,’ which is the term used to describe the forced movement of Native Americans from their ancestral lands at the hands of the federal government.

The route led from South Carolina to Oklahoma and consisted of mostly Cherokee Indians, who were mainly transported via waterways on the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.

The park also includes a few well-done reconstructions of historic forts and some beautiful views of the river.

14. Baum Gallery at Uca

The University of Central Arkansas campus is home to the Baum Gallery, which is a large, modern facility displaying a wide array of contemporary art from local and national artists in a variety of mediums.

The gallery is comprised of three distinct sections. In addition to its permanent exhibits, it hosts temporary ones as well.

Visiting artists’ work is often free to see, and they offer live performances and theater in the Reynolds Performance Hall, so it’s the kind of place you could easily spend a few hours.

The calendar of events on their website lists upcoming shows well in advance so take a look.