This Affordable Arkansas City Pairs A Respected College With A Vibrant Arts Scene And Centuries Of History

From the art village of Bradenton to the galleries and studios of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, some places seem to just breathe art and absorb the creative spirit, transforming every street, corner, and building into a living exhibition. Searcy, Arkansas, is one of these beautiful and rare places, a town of artists and scholars, a place of expression, and a significant location in American history.

The artistic spirit is not all that characterizes Searcy, as it is a celebrated hub of education and learning as well. It is home to Harding University, a 100-year-old academic destination offering liberal arts programs to over 4,000 students. Searcy is not only a great place to learn but an ideal town to live in — quaint, lively, and highly affordable, with a typical house selling for around $211,000 as of May 2025. Consequently, holiday stays are just as reasonable, starting at $50 a night. This, coupled with it being only a two-hour drive from Memphis International Airport, makes Searcy an ideal and accessible getaway.

Starting your exploration in Downtown Searcy is ideal as it offers easy access to most of the town's art attractions. If you're only going to visit one place, then make it Art Alley. Not only is it an open-air museum featuring rotating exhibitions by local artists, but it's also a community space that brings people together to share one passion. It often hosts events and comes even more alive with the sounds of live music performances. Continue your mural journey with a simple brochure, courtesy of the city, that guides you through Searcy, art piece by art piece.

Just a five-minute walk away from Art Alley is the historic Benjamin Clayton Black House and Art Gallery. This historic house, built in 1874, is beauty incarnate, inside and out, with immaculate Victorian architecture defining its outside and free rotating art shows keeping it an important hub for local artists. Head over to Citizen Park afterward and catch a live outdoor performance while relaxing on the grass.

It is only natural that some towns hold more history than others, and just like the American history packed into Harpers Ferry, Searcy is home to a rich heritage waiting to be discovered. The town was originally named White Sulphur Springs and didn't get its current name until 1837, in honor of an Arkansas legislator by the same name. It is home to the oldest functional courthouse in the state — the White County Courthouse — dating back to 1871 and once restored after a fire. For more history, Pioneer Village is only a three-minute drive from Downtown Searcy and offers a look into the past with its collection of 19th-century houses and buildings.

At the heart of Searcy is the Rialto Theater, a dream destination for history enthusiasts and film buffs. It dates back to the 1920s, featuring a striking Art Deco style, and above all, it is still fully functional today. Rialto plays a combination of older titles and new releases, all priced at a very affordable $1 for matinees and Tuesday showings and $3 for all other showtimes (as of this writing).