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Arkansas River Visitor Center: A River's Story

Discover the story of the Arkansas River at the Russellville Visitor Center, exploring its history, ecology, and transformation.

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The Arkansas River Visitor Center in Russellville, Arkansas, tells the story of the Arkansas River, its history, and its transformation into a navigable waterway. Through exhibits and interactive displays, visitors can learn about the river's past, present, and future.

A brief summary to Arkansas River Visitor Center

  • 1799 Lock and Dam Rd, Russellville, Arkansas, 72802, US

Local tips

  • Check out the interactive exhibits to learn about the lock and dam system.
  • Take time to enjoy the view of the Arkansas River and the Dardanelle Lock and Dam.
  • Combine your visit with a trip to nearby Lake Dardanelle State Park for outdoor recreation.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The Arkansas River Visitor Center is located off US Highway 7. From Highway 7, turn west onto Lock and Dam Road. The visitor center is approximately three miles from the highway. Parking is available at the visitor center.

  • Walking

    If you are at the Dardanelle Lock and Dam, the visitor center is a short walk away. Follow the signs from the dam to the visitor center.

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Discover more about Arkansas River Visitor Center

The Arkansas River Visitor Center, located in Russellville, Arkansas, is dedicated to interpreting the natural and cultural history of the Arkansas River and its transformation into the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. Dedicated on August 20, 1985, the center was designed and constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The visitor center's exhibits tell the story of the Arkansas River Valley, from its original state to the present day. A mural, artifacts, and recordings depict Native American life along the river. Exhibits also illustrate the lives of early settlers and the impact of the steamboat era. Visitors can also learn about the devastating floods that occurred before the construction of levees and flood-control reservoirs. Interactive displays showcase the river's present-day uses, including fish and wildlife habitats, recreation, navigation, flood control, and hydropower. A special exhibit allows visitors to operate a lock chamber using a computer model. The Arkansas River Visitor Center is located on Lock and Dam Road, overlooking the Dardanelle Lock and Dam. The Dardanelle Lock and Dam is near the midpoint of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which spans 445 miles from the Mississippi River to the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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