Antique Shops and Van Buren, Arkansas, Are Synonymous

Van Buren, Arkansas, is located on Interstate 40, just a short 2 hour drive from Little Rock, Arkansas. This town is one of the oldest settlements in western Arkansas. According to the information from the Van Buren Visitor Center, this town was a steamboat landing, a stage stop, and the border between the two Indian tribes, the Cherokee and Choctaw. The town was named in 1836 to honor the presidential candidate, Martin Van Buren.

The downtown area, now restored, is a tribute to the old West. It is a 10 block area that has the appearance of the old West with lamps and period storefronts. In the confines of these store fronts, are the best antique shops in Western Arkansas. A tourist can walk easily on the streets and all of the shops are filled with treasures that antique lovers can appreciate. Reasonable prices are the mainstay of these shops. A tourist has bargaining power, also, as most shop keepers are up for a little haggling. This town setting was used in the TV mini series of several years ago, The Blue and the Gray, to depict Gettysburg and Vicksburg.

These shops are part of the Van Buren Walking Tour, which includes 52 historic stops. A brochure is available at the Visitors Center located at the Old Frisco Depot on Main Street in Van Buren.

Contributing to this antique paradise is the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad. A visitor can board the train in the Old Frisco Depot. It is a 70 mile round trip that this train travels. In the fall, the trees on the route are alive with color and add dimension to the journey. The passenger cars are restored 19th and 20th coaches. According to the brochure, this two and half hour trip takes passengers over trestles, through a tunnel and through the Boston Mountains. A 80 mile, three hour trip, is also available. This trip is from Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to Winslow, Arkansas. Ft. Smith, Arkansas, is located across the river from Van Buren.

In the train depot, known as old Frisco Depot, is the exhibit depicting the memorabilia of Bob Burns, a radio comedian and native of Van Buren, who Invented a musical instrument, which he called the bazooka. The anti-tank weapon invented in WWII was named for this strange instrument.

This small town offers overnight accommodations at such name brand motels as the Best Western and Hampton Inn. Small restaurants, diners, and cafes are available along the downtown route, and in nearby Fort Smith.

There are several shopping malls available over the river, if antique shopping is not your forte. However, Van Buren is considered the utmost destination for antiques in western Arkansas.