Seed Warehouse No. 5, Delta Travel Guide

Seed Warehouse No. 5 stands as a tangible reminder of Arkansas's rich agricultural past. Built in 1948 by Robert L. Dortch, a prominent local cotton farmer, the warehouse was used to store cotton seeds. Dortch even drew the plans for the building on a paper towel. Its location was chosen because it was close to both the highway and the Cotton Belt Railroad.The building itself is a unique example of mid-20th century agricultural architecture, featuring sloping walls and gabled cupolas. The angled walls correspond to the angle at which cotton seeds naturally form piles. Restored in 2008, the warehouse now houses museum exhibits that tell the story of cotton production in Arkansas from statehood in 1836 through World War II.The Plantation Agriculture Museum, where Seed Warehouse No. 5 is located, preserves Arkansas's farming history. The museum complex includes the main museum building (originally a general store built in 1912), the Dortch Gin Exhibit (housing a 1916 cotton gin), and a historic tractor exhibit. Visitors can explore exhibits about growing, picking, ginning and storing cotton, and learn about the lives of those who worked the land, from slaves and sharecroppers to plantation owners.