Pottsville arkansas

What started as a quick pit stop turned out to be an immersive guided journey back in time.

Nestled in the heart of small-town America lies the historic Potts Inn in Pottsville, Arkansas. This small town, located just off Highway 64, is filled with surprises and a rich history waiting to be discovered. On our family road trip through the state, my husband Josh and I stumbled upon this hidden gem and were immediately drawn to its charm.

As we arrived in Pottsville, we stopped at a nearby playground to let our son Azure and dog Chico burn off some energy before exploring the town. Driving in, we noticed a few old buildings, including a bank and general store, which piqued our interest. We decided to explore further and stumbled upon the Potts Inn, a Civil War-era inn turned museum complex filled with artifacts from that period.

As we walked around the premises, reading signs and peaking in windows, a man approached us and introduced himself as Mr. Garry Penman, the Vice President of the historical society. He kindly offered to show us around, and we happily accepted his offer.

Our tour began with a visit to a rustic log cabin, a preacher’s retreat from the 1800’s. It was a quaint cabin that was filled to the brim with unique pieces like Native American arrowheads and antique tobacco tins. We were both amazed by what we saw, and Mr. Garry's enthusiasm for sharing stories and fun facts about each piece was infectious. He told us that the retreat was three stories tall and had a fully working bathroom - a rarity for cabins in that era.  The cabin was so packed with treasures that it was hard to leave, but we knew that there was still so much more to explore. As we continued on towards the main house, Mr. Garry mentioned the Hat and Clothing Cabin. He offered to show us inside, and we eagerly accepted.

The cabin was filled with an impressive variety of clothing, and each piece seemed to have a personal story attached to it. As Mr. Garry shared these stories with us, we could feel the strong connection that the community had with this place. We saw so many styles of hats and dresses with original leather buttons and trimmings. Each garment was a unique and tangible piece of history, and Mr. Garry had so many secret tidbits about the family that brought it all to life.

The next building we explored had a collection of dolls dressed up as every single first lady of the United States, as well as a doll for each first lady of Arkansas. We also saw a display of early 1900's medical equipment, belonging to Dr. Teeter, the town doctor from the time.

Finally, we made our way to the main house, a large white building at the center of the complex. As we approached the main house, we were struck by the impressive 1850's structure. The building's exterior had been well preserved, and stepping inside, we felt transported back in time.

Garry began to show us around, taking us through the main hall and into the four identically shaped rooms, each decorated with period furniture from the late 1800s and early 1900s. We were amazed at the attention to detail that had gone into creating an authentic representation of the house's history. As we walked through each room, Garry shared stories and information about the family and their legacy in Pottsville. We could imagine guests relaxing in the gentleman's parlor, listening to the sound of the piano, or sitting down to enjoy a meal in the dining room.

The decor and furnishings really made us feel like we were stepping back in time and experiencing life at the inn as it was in the past. It was a truly remarkable experience, and we were grateful to Garry for sharing his knowledge and passion for the history of the Potts Inn.

As our house tour was coming to a close,  Mr. Penman took me up to the attic and shared a spooky story of someone passing away inside the ladies parlor. He also showed me an old-fashioned rope bed that he had personally woven. This is when I realized that Mr. Penman was not only the Vice President of Potts Inn, he was an active historian!

It wasn’t just about this family and this house, this had become Mr. Penman’s life too. He was so passionate and excited to share everything he knew and all the tidbits he had found out. He personally discovered the family’s cemetery, uncovering and preserving history that was at risk of being lost.

After the tour, Mr. Penman walked me back to our car and insisted I see the inside of the bank, there was no way I was going to pass this up! It was the first building I noticed, and the last one I got to see inside. He explained to me that he was taking out the carpet and restoring the bank's original flooring, and that he and the community were in the process of seeking funding to fully restore this bank and the grocery across the street. He shared stories of several robberies, how the bank also operated as a babor shop and he even showed me the safe, dating back to the bank's opening in 1912.

Our visit to Potts Inn was not only a memorable experience but also an eye-opening one. We were amazed by the effort and dedication of Mr. Penman and the community in celebrating the history of this small town. It's experiences like these that remind us of the beauty and wonder that can be found when taking the back roads, and we feel grateful to have been a part of it.