Elizabeth Harrell

When my daughter was just 6 weeks old, I went back to work full-time. I was torn, as I left my tiny infant at a daycare for nine hours a day. I daydreamed about staying at home with her full-time. I daydreamed about hours spent in leisure, gazing at my baby. As a few years passed, I fantasized about...

Terrifying toys, boogers, and motherly love.

The Old Mill is one of Arkansas’ most well-known symbols, a beautiful landmark in the deep south. She’s been featured in magazines, newspapers, and the opening credits of Gone with the Wind. But for most Arkansans, and especially North Little Rock residents, the Old Mill is an incredibly personal destination.

Marlsgate Plantation, located near Scott, is a fantastic piece of Arkansas architecture. And while it is inarguably one of the queens of historic southern plantations, it also reminds me of The Great Gatsby and the roaring 20’s period. I can’t help but envision a southern take on Fitzgerald’s “East Egg” mansions. It’s easy to look at Marlsgate’s grand columns...

Everyone has an “a-ha” moment when it comes to discovering something inspiring. I’ve known artists who discovered a particular museum or school of art and thought, “This! This is what I love!” For writers, it’s stumbling upon a particular genre that peaks their interest, or a chef tasting something for the first time and becoming inspired. These are the kinds of “a-ha” moments give direction to already existing passion.
I’ve often joked that if interior design were an NFL level sport...

Historic houses are my passion. I’ve taken photos of them. I’ve stalked them on real estate websites. My favorite thing to do when traveling is touring historic homes, ranging from sea captain abodes to southern plantations. There is something unique to an old house that you cannot find or feel in a newer home. It’s more than just a sense of character...

During Victorian times, ancient legends and modern theories combined into “flower meanings.” In a time of emotional oppression (men and women were not free in “proper” society to share their feelings or burgeoning love with each other), flowers were sometimes used as code. Lovers and friends sent each other flowers to convey messages and affection.

Once upon a time in Gurdon, several men who worked in the lumber industry were waiting on a delayed train. And with several hours to fill, they began to chat. The year was 1892, and it’s fascinating to think of the gentlemen gathered around a table or wood stove, doing exactly what traveling business people still do today while gathered in an airport lounge, talking shop. These men...

I spent my childhood camping in Arkansas State Parks. We roasted marshmallows, swam in lakes, and hiked trails. Even during my teen years, when all I wanted to do was stay at home and talk on the phone, I still remember one family hike in particular. I stood by an Ozark stream and felt overwhelmed by the beauty surrounding me. I also remember the first time we visited Petit Jean. I remember standing next to the grave-site on top of the mountain and hearing the legend of a little French girl...

Arkansas’s civil rights history runs deep. Our civil rights leaders, speakers, organizers, and activists are a proud part of our past, from the Little Rock Nine to Daisy Bates. It’s no surprise that the National Civil Rights Trail (a national trail of monuments that spans from Kansas to Washington D.C), has included six historic Arkansas sites.

Birdsong will always be synonymous with living in Arkansas. Whippoorwills sing in evening chorus. Mourning doves greet you as you drink coffee on the front porch. Bobwhites cheer you along as you hike a trail in the Ozark mountains. A crow soaring through...

Arkansas’s well-known knife history began with James Black, a man often credited with crafting the world-famous Bowie Knife. And like something from a Bronte sisters’ novel, James Black’s story is filled with orphaned beginnings, fame, intrigue, and betrayal.

State houses, historic homes, and museums preserve pages from our past. One such gem is the Powhatan State Park. Named “Powhatan” in 1837 in honor of the father of Pocahontas, this community began as a river port town on the Black River. Steamboat landings created economic growth...

As Spring inches closer, most of us are shaking off the cobwebs of cabin fever and searching for weekend getaways. From the mountain forests of north Arkansas to the beauty and music of the Delta, there is no shortage of options here in The Natural State. But perhaps my favorite getaway option is a historic inn or a cozy bed and breakfast.

When I was in grade school, I had a hard time getting a mental handle on Louisiana Purchase history. I would think, “Wait, before this land was part of the United States, it was French? And then Spanish? And then French again?” Luckily, adulthood and some well-written books...