Helena is the hometown of country singer Conway Twitty, blues singer Sonny Boy Williams II, and soprano Frances Greer. The town celebrates its musical celebrities each fall with the King Biscuit Blues Festival held in October. A mural featuring various musicians stretched on the levee walk for one block.
The town is also the site of the 1863 Battle of Helena, in which Confederate troops were defeated by the occupying Union forces.
The Confederate Military Cemetery, on the banks of the Mississippi, contains the graves of Confederate soldiers. There are 100 marked and unmarked graves of Confederate soldiers, many were casualties of the July 4, 1863 battle.
The Delta Cultural Center has two locations, the Depot and the Visitor's Center. The Depot features permanent exhibits on the history of Arkansas, including frontier life, life on the Mississippi River, and the Civil War.
The Visitor's Center houses a permanent music exhibit, temporary art exhibits and the museum store.
Address: Delta Cultural Center, 141 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342-3750, United States
Phone: 1 (870) 338-4350, Fax: 1 (870) 338-4358
Hours:
9am-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Phillips County Library and Museum features displays on the Spanish-American and Civil Wars, including artwork and clothing. Built in the late 1800s the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Phillips County Library is one of the oldest in the state of Arkansas.
The Pillow-Thompson House in Helena was built in 1890 by Jerome B. Pillow. This Queen Anne style home has been restored to its original glory. Five generations of Pillow descendants have lived in the house and in 1992, Josephine Thompson and her son George de Man donated the house to the Phillips Community College Foundation.
Hours:
10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), American Independance Day (July 4), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Easter - Christian
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
St Francis National Forest is a 21,000 acre area that offers developed recreational areas at Bear Creek Lake and Storm Creek Lake. Popular activities in these areas include camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking.
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