By Randy Rice
Special to Ozark Living
e western Washington County area is
rich in history, and few organizations have
worked to preserve that history and present it
to the public like Historic Cane Hill, a nonprofit
organization that owns 150-plus acres south of
Lincoln, Arkansas.
"Our official mission is that we're dedicated
to preserving historically significant structures
of the Cane Hill community and western
Washington County," said David Collins, public
program manager for Historic Cane Hill. "is
includes the many small communities around
present-day Cane Hill, Arkansas. We seek to
build on the legacies of architecture, education
and the arts by providing programs and a venue
to experience art and culture rooted in the
history of the region and the beautiful natural
surroundings of the Ozark Mountains."
Historic Cane Hill was formed in 2013 to
take over the renovation efforts of the former
Cane Hill College and to acquire and care for
other properties that contributed to the story of
Cane Hill.
"In 2017, the college was fully renovated
and Historic Cane Hill began to expand its
mission to honor the educational and arts-
based experience in its history by offering
unique opportunities for children, adults and
families to encounter history, art and nature
Preserving history in
West Washington County
Photo courtesy NWA Democrat-Gazette
Artist Myria Allen of Fayetteville, a member of the Plein
Air Painters of the Ozarks, paints from the south side
of the now restored 1891 Cane Hill Presbyterian Church
during the group's visit to Historic Cane Hill.
See CANE HILL on page 32
OZArK liViNG • April 2023 • 29
