El Dorado Travel Guide

Trek Zone

City

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of Arkansas, the city of El Dorado is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. With its charming small-town atmosphere and rich history, this vibrant city offers a unique and unforgettable experience for travelers.

One of the main attractions in El Dorado is the South Arkansas Arts Center, a hub for local artists and performers. This cultural center hosts a variety of art exhibitions, live theater performances, and music concerts throughout the year. Visitors can immerse themselves in the local arts scene and appreciate the talent and creativity of the region.

For nature enthusiasts, El Dorado is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. The nearby South Arkansas Arboretum State Park is a haven for outdoor lovers, with its extensive network of trails that wind through lush forests and scenic gardens. Whether hiking, biking, or simply taking a leisurely stroll, visitors can enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature in this picturesque park.

History buffs will be delighted by the city's rich heritage, which can be explored at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources. This museum showcases the state's fascinating geological and cultural history, with exhibits that highlight the region's oil industry, dinosaur fossils, and Native American artifacts. It's a journey through time that offers a deeper understanding of the area's past.

El Dorado also boasts a vibrant culinary scene, with a wide range of restaurants and eateries offering delicious Southern cuisine. From mouthwatering barbecue joints to charming cafes serving homemade pies, food lovers will find themselves in culinary paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to try the local specialties, such as fried catfish or hush puppies, for a true taste of El Dorado.

In addition to its cultural and natural attractions, El Dorado hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year. The city comes alive with music festivals, art fairs, and cultural celebrations that showcase the vibrant spirit and creativity of the community.

Alternative names: Founded: 1843 (181 years ago)Population: 18.4 thous.Area: 16.27 mi²Maximum elevation: 269 ftMinimal elevation: 249 ftCoordinates: 33°12'44"N, 92°39'52"W

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ArkansasUnited States

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El Dorado Top Attractions

El Dorado Attractions - What to See and Explore

El Dorado offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: El Dorado Confederate Monument, John Newton House, First Presbyterian Church, Union County Courthouse. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Memorial
El Dorado Confederate Monument
The El Dorado Confederate Monument is located on the grounds of the Union County Courthouse in El Dorado, Arkansas, near the corner of North Main and South Washington Streets.
Historical place • Museum • History museum
John Newton House
The Newton House Museum, also known as the Matthew Rainey House, is a historic house museum at 510 North Jackson Street in El Dorado, Arkansas, United States. The house was built sometime between 1843 and 1853 by Matthew Rainey, El Dorado's first settler, and is the oldest building in the city.
Church
First Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church is a historic church at 300 E. Main in El Dorado, Arkansas. The single story brick building was constructed in 1926 for a congregation which was organized in 1846.

33°12'44"N • 92°39'48"W
Union County Courthouse
The Union County Courthouse is a courthouse in El Dorado, Arkansas, United States, the county seat of Union County, built in 1927. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The courthouse was built in the Classic Revival and Greek Revival styles by Mann & Stern and anchors the center of Union Square.
Concerts and shows • Theater
Rialto Theatre
The Rialto Theatre is a historic performing venue at 117 East Cedar Street in downtown El Dorado, Arkansas. Built in 1929 during El Dorado's oil boom years, the theater is one of the best local examples of Classical Revival architecture, and is one of the largest and most elaborately decorated performing spaces in southern Arkansas.
33°12'44"N • 92°39'49"W
Masonic Temple
The Masonic Temple of El Dorado, Arkansas is located at 106-108 North Washington Street, on the west side of the courthouse square. The four-story masonry building was built in 1923–24 to a design by Little Rock architect Charles S. Watts.
City hall
Municipal Building
The Municipal Building, or City Hall, of El Dorado, Arkansas is located at 204 North West Street.
33°12'45"N • 92°39'52"W
Bank of Commerce
The Bank of Commerce building is a historic commercial building at 200 North Washington Street in El Dorado, Arkansas. The Classical Revival two story brick building was constructed in 1919–20, and is one of the few buildings in El Dorado's downtown that retains its historical facade from that period.
33°12'49"N • 92°39'58"W
Rumph Mortuary
The Rumph Mortuary is a historic commercial building at 312 West Oak Street in El Dorado, Arkansas. Built in 1927, it is a two-story brown brick building, with a three-bay facade topped by a crenellated Gothic parapet.
33°12'47"N • 92°39'49"W
Exchange Bank
The Exchange Bank building is a historic commercial building at Washington and Oak Streets in El Dorado, Arkansas. Built in 1926–27, the nine story building was the first skyscraper in Union County, and it was the tallest building in El Dorado at the time of its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
33°12'33"N • 92°40'3"W
W. F. & Estelle McWilliams House
The W.F. & Estelle McWilliams House is a historic house at 314 Summit Avenue in El Dorado, Arkansas. The two story brick house was built in 1922 for William and Estelle McWilliams, early in El Dorado's oil boom, which was prompted by the discovery of oil in 1921.
33°12'36"N • 92°39'45"W
Griffin Auto Company Building
The Griffin Auto Company Building is a historic automobile sales and service facility at 117 East Locust Street in El Dorado, Arkansas. It is a single story structure built out of reinforced concrete, with a full basement. The main floor housed the sales and showroom area, and the service area was in the basement.
33°12'38"N • 92°39'47"W
J.H. McWilliams House
The J.H. McWilliams House is a historic house at 323 West Oak Street in El Dorado, Arkansas. This two story brick house was built in 1925–26, during the city's oil boom years.
33°12'34"N • 92°39'58"W
El Dorado Junior College Building
The El Dorado Junior College Building is a historic academic building at 300 South West Avenue in El Dorado, Arkansas. The three story brick building was built in 1905 as a public school building for the county's white students.
33°13'23"N • 92°39'35"W
Randolph James House
The Randolph James House is a historic house at 1212 North Madison Avenue in El Dorado, Arkansas. The two-story stuccoed house was designed by Mann & Stern, and was built in 1927 for Randolph James by his father George, a principal in the local Exchange Bank who benefited from the city's oil boom in the 1920s.
Interesting neighbourhood
El Dorado Apartments
The El Dorado Apartments are a historic apartment house at 420 Wilson Place in El Dorado, Arkansas. The two story brick and limestone building was designed by Louisiana architect Cheshire Peyton, and built in 1926 in response to the discovery of oil in the area and the ensuing economic boom.
33°13'21"N • 92°39'41"W
Barton Public Library
Library
Universities and schools
South Arkansas Community College
South Arkansas Community College is a public community college in El Dorado, Arkansas. South Arkansas Community College, known locally as SouthArk, is a public, comprehensive community college with an open-door policy, providing educational programs, workforce development, civic...

Day trips

El Dorado – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of El Dorado, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston), Poison Springs Battleground State Park (Camden), Ruston Farmers Market (Ruston).

47 milesS
Arenas and stadiums, Sport venue, Sport
Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston
Joe Aillet Stadium is a college football stadium in Ruston, Louisiana and the home field of the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs football team, which competes in Conference USA.
35 milesNW
State park, Park
Poison Springs Battleground State Park, Camden
Poison Springs Battleground State Park is an Arkansas state park located southeast of Bluff City. It commemorates the Battle of Poison Spring in the American Civil War, which was part of the 1864 Camden Expedition, an element of a Union Army initiative to gain control of Shreveport, Louisiana and get a foothold in Texas.
47 milesS
32°31'45"N • 92°38'10"W
Ruston Farmers Market, Ruston
Farmer's market, Shopping, Market
47 milesS
Concerts and shows, Theater
Dixie Center for the Arts, Ruston
The Dixie Center for the Arts, also known as the Dixie Theater or simply the Dixie, is a theater-style venue located at 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, Louisiana. The venue originally opened as the Astor Theater in 1928.
27 milesN
Memorial
Camden Confederate Monument, Camden
The Camden Confederate Monument, also known as the Confederate Women's Memorial, is located on the grounds of the Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden, Arkansas.