Conway: Discover History, Art and Nature

Conway brings together a range of interests to consider when planning your trip: history, art, water activities, cycling and an annual festival. The places and activities each have a different focus. For example, you can explore the region’s history, learn about an art museum, or choose between activities on the water and two cycling routes.

History and Museums

Cadron Blockhouse is a reconstruction of a building from the late 18th century. Settlers and fur trappers used the original building as a home, trading post and public meeting place. These three functions show how living, trading and gathering as a community came together in one place. If you’re interested in early settlement history, the blockhouse offers a tangible point of reference.

Cadron Settlement Park has two exhibits about the Trail of Tears. This offers a different focus from the reconstructed historic dwelling: here, exhibits on this subject take center stage. Together, the two sites offer different ways to explore history, without suggesting they are the same kind of attraction.

Faulkner County Museum also brings together a historic site and regional themes. It is housed in a historic jail built in 1896 and displays objects from prehistoric and early history, as well as from the history of Faulkner County. The building’s construction date and the time span covered by the objects on display give you two clear points of reference: the history of the building and the county’s long history.

Art and Performing Arts

Baum Gallery is an educational art museum for UCA students, faculty and staff, as well as the Central Arkansas community. Its profile therefore extends beyond the university while also serving a regional audience. This distinguishes it from the local history themes of Faulkner County Museum and Cadron Settlement Park.

Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall is a 1,200-seat theater and the home of Public Appearances. The organization develops and presents performing arts programs for the Central Arkansas community. If you’re interested in this area, distinguishing between the theater and the organization helps clarify their roles: the Hall is the theater; Public Appearances is responsible for developing and presenting the programs.

Water, Disc Golf and Cycling

Beaverfork Lake was created by damming Beaverfork Creek and was completed in 1956. Today, the lake is used for boating and fishing. This gives you a clear water-based option to consider. Beaverfork Lake Park adds an 18-hole disc golf course to the mix. Boating and fishing on the lake, and disc golf in the park, are different ways to spend your time.

For a bike ride, Tucker Creek Trail offers two options: a 3-mile ride from the Salem Road trailhead and a 6-mile route from Gatlin Park. The options differ both in distance and in their stated starting points. You can compare them based on the distance you want to cover, without assuming that distance alone indicates difficulty.

An Annual Festival

Toad Suck Daze takes place every year on the first weekend in May in downtown Conway. This gives your stay a specific seasonal connection and makes the festival a distinct option alongside museums, art and outdoor activities. If you’d like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the relevant year before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Greenbrier, Damascus.

Return to the regional travel overview: Faulkner.