Editing Ashdown, Arkansas (section)

==Arts and culture==
{{See also|Culture of Arkansas}}

===Annual cultural events===
Downtown Ashdown hosts an annual Whistlestop Festival in May, paying homage to the importance of the railroad to the city's development. Festivities include an art show, catfish cookoff, car show, food vendors, games/activities for children, turtle races and the crowning of Miss Whistlestop.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Event: 17th Annual Whistlestop Festival |url=http://www.arkansas.com/events/details.aspx?id=61981 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606210434/http://www.arkansas.com/events/details.aspx?id=61981 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=[[Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism]]}}</ref> A farmer's market is hosted in City Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the growing season.<ref name="cp">{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=Ashdown City Park |url=http://www.arkansas.com/group-travel/travel_industry/meeting-planners/attr_detail.aspx?id=95627 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606212323/http://www.arkansas.com/group-travel/travel_industry/meeting-planners/attr_detail.aspx?id=95627 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Ashdown August 2018 03 (Two Rivers Museum).jpg|right|thumb|Two Rivers Museum]]
Downtown Ashdown has historically been the economic, social and political hub of Little River County. Today, it is preserved by the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP) as the [[Ashdown Commercial Historic District]]. Roughly bounded by Keller, E. Main, Commerce, and N. Constitution streets, the district encompasses 32 contributing properties deemed instrumental in Ashdown's farming and timber industries in the early 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2008 |title=Ashdown Commercial Historic District |url=http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/!userfiles/LR0133.nr.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804121509/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/%21userfiles/LR0133.nr.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |website=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>  The nearby [[Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot]], also known as the [[Graysonia, Nashville & Ashdown Railroad]] Depot, appears on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Little River County, Arkansas]], due to the strong tie between the success of the railroad and the Ashdown economy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 17, 1994 |title=Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot |url=http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/!userfiles/LR0020.nr.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804112338/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/%21userfiles/LR0020.nr.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |website=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

The [[Hunter-Coulter House|Hunter-Coulter Museum]] at 310 N. 2nd Street is managed by the Little River County Historical Society. Originally built in 1918 to house a business following the railroad-inspired boom, it is one of the few remaining structures from the boom period of Ashdown's history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 20, 1996 |title=Hunter-Coulter House |url=http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/!userfiles/LR0062.nr.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804025821/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/%21userfiles/LR0062.nr.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |website=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>  Today, it features period furnishings and offers a candlelight dinner around [[Christmas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunter-Coulter House Museum |url=http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/detail.aspx?id=18203 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803235344/http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/detail.aspx?id=18203 |archive-date=August 3, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism}}</ref> The Two Rivers Museum at 15 E. Main Street contains a military display, "Freedom's Heroes", including [[World War I]] and World War II uniforms. A horse-drawn hearse and embalming table are also among the displays. A display honoring Henry Kaufman, founder of [[Kaufman Seeds]], is also available to visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Rivers Museum |url=http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/detail.aspx?id=92822&r=Timberlands&city=Ashdown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804091508/http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/detail.aspx?id=92822&r=Timberlands&city=Ashdown |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism}}</ref>

[[File:Pond creek nwr.jpg|thumb|right|Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge]]
Outdoor recreation is plentiful in Ashdown. City Park features a walking trail, playground, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds and horseshoe pits. It is also host to the city's farmer's market.<ref name="cp" /> Northeast of town, [[Lake Millwood]] offers visitors boating, fishing, camping and hiking opportunities along its shores.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millwood Lake |url=http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-go/lakes-rivers/lake.aspx?id=29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205104749/http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-go/lakes-rivers/lake.aspx?id=29 |archive-date=December 5, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism}}</ref> Along the lake, [[Millwood State Park]] is well known for birding and trophy fishing. The park also offers camping, picnic sites, trails and a marina for visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millwood State Park |url=http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-stay/detail.aspx?id=22683 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408222517/http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-stay/detail.aspx?id=22683 |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism}}</ref> Golf is also available near the lake on the 18-hole golf course at the Millwood Landing Golf and RV Resort.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millwood Landing Golf & RV Resort |url=http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-stay/detail.aspx?id=94711 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205110759/http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-stay/detail.aspx?id=94711 |archive-date=December 5, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism}}</ref> Nearby [[Beard's Bluff]] offers camping, hiking, fishing and boating. The [[Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge]] at the intersection of the [[Mississippi flyway]] and [[Central Flyway]] offers {{convert|30000|acre|ha}} of seasonally flooded hardwood forested wetlands that attract wintering waterfowl and deer. Seasonal hunting is offered, as well as fishing, camping and photography.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge |url=http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/facts/pndcon.pdf |access-date=March 30, 2014 |website=Fact Sheet |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}</ref>