It’s been a good year for Fayetteville history buffs.
A few months ago, we learned that Larry Foley is working on a documentary film, “Up Among the Hills” about the history of our city.
Ozark Theater
Royal Theatre
Now, Arcadia Publishing has released a new book of historic Fayetteville photos as part of their Images of America series.
Local authors Charles Y. Alison (FayettevilleHistory.com) and Ellen K. Compton compiled the book, simply titled Fayetteville. The book features more than 200 images and descriptions from some of the lesser-known and most historic photos from the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History and the University of Arkansas Libraries Department of Special Collections.
Here’s a description of the new book, from the publisher’s website:
Founded on America’s frontier in 1828, Fayetteville soon became a trade center and educational oasis for northwest Arkansas and the Indian Territory just to the west. Its location up in Ozark hills gave it a picturesque setting, a healthy climate, and diverse economy. The earliest residents named the town Washington Court because it was the county seat of Washington County, but its name was changed to Fayetteville in 1829, soon becoming synonymous with education in Arkansas. Fayetteville provided numerous educational firsts, including the first public school district, the first college chartered to award degrees, the first state university, and the first school and university in the South to integrate. In addition to being a cultural crossroads, Fayetteville also proved to be a literal crossroads for the following: the Trail of Tears, the Butterfield stagecoach route, and the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway. They fostered a citizenry that thrived on commerce while encouraging education and tourism.
The book is now available for purchase online, or locally at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street.
