[1] Washington served as a major trading point along the Southwest Trail, evolving into the Hempstead county seat and later the capital of Arkansas from 1863 to 1865 when Little Rock was threatened during the Civil War.

The Southwest Trail ran from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Red River port of Fulton in Hempstead County some twelve miles from Washington.

William B. Travis, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett each separately traveled through Washington on their way to Texas.

In 1958, the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation began preserving the unique buildings and sites that currently lie within the park.

The historic buildings provide excellent examples of the architectural styles popular in the 19th century American South.

The archives contain rare books, court documents, newspapers, census information, photographs, scrapbooks, sheet music, and assorted family histories.