Main Street Arkansas: The Hearts of Arkansas Cities and Towns—as Portrayed in Postcards and Photographs

In this visual history—the Hanley brothers’ most extensive book yet—readers will trace many towns’ humble beginnings, with wooden-frame structures lining rutted dirt streets teeming with wagons, horses, and mules. The evolution of towns such as Walnut Ridge, Bentonville, Little Rock, and Lake Village, as well as tiny hamlets such as Black Rock and Ponca, unfolds before readers’ eyes. Scenes from the 1950s feature stores such as Ben Franklin, OTASCO, and Western Auto. Success stories of Main Street preservation and revitalization in El Dorado, Siloam Springs, Conway, and Harrison show how local elders have set an example for other towns.