Helena is the birthplace of many notable people including prominent African Americans and Arkansas' former senior United States senator, Blanche Lincoln.

Helena is home to the longest running daily radio program in the U.S., King Biscuit Time.

[3][4] This line later became part of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway in 1910, but was all abandoned by 1979.

In June 1863, Confederate Commander Theophilus Holmes sought to take pressure off of Vicksburg, Mississippi, by attacking the Union-held town of Helena, Arkansas.

[7] Fort Curtis was built in August 1862 by Union soldiers and freed slaves in Helena.

For the next year, it served as a command post for the Union since it was centrally located on the Mississippi River.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, Helena had a total area of 8.9 sq mi (23 km2), all land.

Among the musicians who regularly visited and performed in the area at that time were Robert Johnson, Johnny Shines, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Robert Nighthawk, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Memphis Slim and Roosevelt Sykes.

[14] Helena, Arkansas is home to historic buildings such as the Sidney H. Horner House and the Centennial Baptist Church.

The Edwardian Inn is located on land occupied by Union forces during the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.