Saline County brings tangible history together with lakes, local markets and a distinctive bridge. The past is especially vivid where it can be read in the town plan, collections and building methods; the lakes add a character of their own.

Town History and Collections

The Benton Commercial Historic District lies at the center of Benton’s original 1836 town plan and is laid out around a courthouse square. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 2008. The Shoppach House adds a single building to this town history: it is the oldest surviving brick building in Saline County. The bricks used for both the house and its well were made locally. In Benton, the historic layout of the town center and a tangible building history stand side by side.

The Bryant Historical Museum focuses on the community of Bryant: it preserves and shares its history, from its agricultural beginnings to its modern development. Exhibits include campaign materials and photographs of the former Bryant school, which burned down in the 1950s, as well as old firefighter uniforms, an antique spinning wheel and relics from the former Prickett dairy farm. Materials about President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s train visit to the town are also represented. The collection brings together everyday objects, agriculture and political events from different periods of local history.

The Saline County Museum Day is devoted to local history throughout the county. The annual event includes special presentations, guided tours and hands-on activities; dates vary from year to year.

The Bauxite Historical Association and Museum preserves the history and culture of Bauxite, a company-founded town in Saline County. The Bauxite Historical Museum is located in Bauxite Community Hall, completed in 1926. The mining history is also commemorated by the large bronze statue “Unsung Heroes–Bauxite Miners”: the family of H. Tyndall Dickinson commissioned it in 2008 for the Community Hall grounds.

The Gann Museum has its own distinctive collection focus. Its holdings include Niloak and other ceramics, artifacts from Indigenous peoples of North America, memorabilia and historical materials relating to Saline County, as well as artifacts and memorabilia from Dr. Gann Sr. and Jr. The museum building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Lakes, Trails and Seasonal Life

The lakes differ in the activities and facilities they offer. Lake Norrell is a 280-acre lake in northern Saline County, where people go boating, fishing, diving and jet skiing. Sunset Lake is a public fishing spot in Saline County. It has a paved, one-mile loop trail, picnic tables, a pavilion, a fishing pier and a boat ramp. While the information about Lake Norrell lists various water activities, Sunset Lake combines a fishing spot with a loop trail and picnic facilities. Check locally on the facilities at Sunset Lake before your visit.

The restored Old River Bridge is part of the 60-mile Southwest Trail between Hot Springs and Little Rock and can be used by cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge is 260 feet long; its construction includes iron beams, two large trusses and a wooden deck supported by iron columns. The dedication ceremony for the reconstructed bridge took place on June 24, 2025. If you plan to use the Southwest Trail, check trail conditions in advance.

The seasons also shape what’s on offer locally: local farmers’ markets are held on the streets of downtown Benton in spring and summer.

Discover more destinations: Bryant, Benton, Mississippi County, Pike, Van Buren County, Grant County, Union County, Little River.

For the main travel overview: Arkansas.