Discover Elm Springs

Explore Elm Springs through its local landmarks and traces of the past: the springs for which the town was named are on today’s Water Avenue; the water mill, the old stagecoach route, and Civil War history offer other ways to learn about the town’s past. The historic section of Elm Springs Cemetery, with its grave markers from the 19th and early 20th centuries, offers a focus of its own. If you take local history into account when choosing where to stay, these topics offer different points of connection.

Springs, the Town’s Name, and Steele-Stevens Heritage Park

The springs for which Elm Springs was named are on today’s Water Avenue. Today, the springs and the land around them are part of Steele-Stevens Heritage Park. The spring-fed stream in the park provides habitat for several species of crayfish, salamanders, and fish. In this way, the spring area connects the history of the town’s name with a perspective on nature. If you are interested in habitats as well as local history, the springs and stream are two connected aspects of this area.

Mill, Stagecoach Route, and Civil War

In 1844, John Ingram operated a water mill powered by the springs. This makes hydropower a specific part of the town’s history. Elm Springs was also on the old stagecoach route between Neosho, Missouri, and Fort Smith, Arkansas; there were relay stations along this route in town. During the Civil War, the area around the springs became a Confederate training ground and encampment. By August 1862, about 4,000 Confederate soldiers had been trained in Elm Springs. The mill, relay stations, and encampment represent different historical functions: hydropower, mail transport, and military training.

The Historic Section of Elm Springs Cemetery

The historic section of Elm Springs Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 2020; the earliest marked burial there dates to 1852. These dates refer to different milestones: the earliest marked burial and the section’s later listing in the Register. The grave markers include hand-carved sandstone and marble markers, as well as elaborately decorated family-name stones from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The cemetery can therefore be understood both through its dates and through the materials and designs of its grave markers.

Design in the Historic Town Center

Elm Springs’ historic town center includes shops specializing in home design and furniture refinishing. This is a different focus from the mill, stagecoach route, and Civil War: here, the emphasis is on home design and work on furniture. When deciding on your trip, you can consider this alongside the historic sites if you are also interested in design and furniture refinishing.

Discover more destinations: Johnson, Springdale, Fayetteville

For the regional travel overview: Washington.