Directly in front of you is a grand, light-brick building with tall, arched windows and a staircase rising up to three large entry arches - just look for the American and Arkansas flags waving from the roof.
Take a moment to imagine the year 1928: the sound of horse hooves and car engines mixing in the streets, the clang of workers’ tools as the brand-new Benton County Courthouse takes shape right here under the hot Arkansas sun. This striking Classic Revival building by Albert O. Clark replaced an older Italianate courthouse that had stood since 1874-and before that, folks handled county business in a humble log courthouse all the way back in 1837. Albert Clark brought his vision from St. Louis, giving Bentonville not only its courthouse but also the county jail and other landmarks. The courthouse you see today stands perfectly symmetrical, flaunting keystones and a center entrance that would make any ancient Roman nod in approval. The top floor once had an open-air balcony-imagine sticky summer trials with lawyers sweating out facts and jurors waving fans-until it was enclosed to keep everyone cool. Now, those rounded-arch windows give a hint of Romanesque flair. As you stand here, you’re not just outside a courthouse; you’re at the anchor of Bentonville’s town square, where history, justice, and a few local arguments have all played out over nearly a century.
