To spot the Henry-Thompson House, look for a two-story, buttery-yellow brick building with a steep roof, fancy trusswork under the gable, and a porch trimmed with ornate scrollwork right in front of you.
Isn’t this place something? Standing here, you’re seeing what Bentonville considered the height of style back in 1890-a house decked out in late Italianate fashion, almost like it’s dressed up for a Victorian ball. Imagine local townsfolk strolling by, craning their necks to check out that scrollwork balustrade and the intricate brackets shading the side entrance, undoubtedly hoping their own homes could look half as fancy. Between 1870 and 1895, homes like this started popping up all over town as Bentonville boomed with new ideas and old-fashioned pride. Those brick walls have weathered decades of Arkansas storms and sunshine, and through it all, the Henry-Thompson House has kept its cool, earning a well-deserved spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. There’s something almost mysterious about its quiet elegance-as though it’s secretly proud to have outlasted its neighbors and still be standing to greet you with that classic, Italianate charm. Imagine living here-just you, that porch, and maybe a bowl of peaches from down the road. Now that’s Bentonville!
