Victorian Architecture on Display in Eureka Springs

Located in Carroll County, Arkansas, Eureka Springs is a destination resort that has retained its flair from the Victorian era of the late 1800s. The streets in the city are small and winding, calling to mind the period of history before automobiles dominated the landscape, and the architecture is equally charming and Victorian, consisting of cottages and manors built in the elaborate style favored during this era. Most buildings are fabricated using materials from local stone quarries. Because of the durability of this material, the buildings are well-preserved and serve as almost a living history experience, so much so that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has selected Eureka Springs to be one of "America's Distinctive Destinations."

Eureka Springs was built in mountainous land in the Ozark Mountains. This mountain heritage is still in evidence today, with streets curving around the hills. Interestingly, some buildings straddle these winding streets in such a way that they have ground-level entrances on multiple floors. The Catholic Church in town takes this to the extreme of having an entrance to their bell tower that is at street level. All of this is due to the layout of the local terrain.

Tourists staying in vacation rentals in Eureka Springs will find that there is much to do in the town. The Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railroad has steam locomotives on display, for example, and also operates a tourist railway of vintage diesel engines pulling cars along two miles of historic track.