Historical Sites
Nell Jane Dawson Plaque and Historic Mural
Located downtown, this green space maintained by the City on the corner was once occupied by the Ouachita Valley Bank and later the Merchants and Planters Bank. The one-time bank building is portrayed among other images from the past in the historic mural by Terry Rocket, which covers the building wall along the south side of the park. The plaque in the park honors the late Nell Jane Dawson, tireless contributor to civic causes, including city beautification. It is located on the SE corner of the intersection of Washington Street and Adams Avenue.
Site of The John Nunn Home (1824)
The John Nunn home was the first enduring residence in Camden. It was then called Ecore Fabre. It remained the residence of his son, Ira Nunn, until 1903 when it was razed for the Cotton Belt Railway expansion. The home served for a time as the first county courthouse. It was located on Cotton Belt Circle just off the south side of East Washington Street at the Union Pacific railroad tracks.
Camden High School / Coleman Stadium
The high school plaque marks the site of the school from 1919 to 1970, the Alma Mater of generations of students. Coleman Stadium, a 1936 WPA project with Art Deco flair named subsequently after a legendary coach, remains a venue for school and civic affairs. It is located near the corner of Center Street and Union Avenue.
Historic Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot
This 1913 railroad terminal is listed on the National Register. A 1999 restoration resulted from a longtime civic campaign. It currently serves as the Chamber of Commerce and Camden Visitors Center. Camden memorabilia including Grapette, Camark Pottery, railroad souvenirs and other historical lore about the City of Camden and Ouachita County is displayed inside. It's open Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Their contact number is (870) 836-6426. It is located at 314 Adams Ave. SW at Stadium Dr. SW across from the historic White House Café —the oldest continuing restaurant in Arkansas.
Fairview School (1926) &
Tate Athletic Field Plaque (1947 - 1991)
It is the site of the old Fairview School, which served generations of students from 1926 until 1994. The gymnasium was state of the art when it was built in 1937 and even housed an indoor heated swimming pool! It has since been repurposed for use as an arts and events center. Tate Field was Fairview’s athletic facility from 1947 until a new stadium was built in 2001. It was also used by Lafayette High School until consolidation with Fairview. (Located on the SW corner of the intersection of Fairview Rd. and Mt. Holly Rd.)
Oakland Farm & Tate's Barn
Historic and stately Oakland farmhouse built in mid-1880s on a 96 acre farm owned by the Tate family, who were among the county's earliest settler. The property has remained in the family since. The site is home of a historic barn, probably built in the 1880s, an enduring cypress structure with a complex floor plan. The barn is annually on the last Saturday in September, the focal point for a large craft fair, named "The Tate Barn Sale," attended by visitors across the region. (Property driveway is located at northern intersection of Oakland St. and Monticello Ave.)
County Courthouse History Marker
The State Centennial (1936) marker and accompanying supplemental information describes the earliest history of the county and town, as well as the history of its courthouses.
Harrell Field
This plaque was dedicated to the memory of Mayor Don Harrell on 9-11-06, at the Camden Municipal Airport, 255 Airport Road, know as (Harrell Field). Located 5 miles NE of Camden. During WWII Harrell Field was home of the 71st Army Air force Training Detachment. On August 2, 1942, over 6,500 people, probably the largest crowd ever assembled in Ouachita County, viewed the facility that was to train the flying cadets to be combat pilots. On April 12, 1944, training was completed at this field with 126,960 student flying hours completed.