Batesville in Independence County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Arkansas College

Original Campus

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 22, 2023

1. Arkansas College Marker

Inscription. Founded by the Presbyterian Church, U.S., in 1872. Dr. Isaac J. Long was the first president. In 1954 the college was moved to a new and larger campus one mile east of here.

Erected 1959 by Arkansas College • Arkansas History Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 35° 46.36′ N, 91° 38.841′ W. Marker is in Batesville, Arkansas, in Independence County. It is at the intersection of East College Avenue and South 7th Street, on the right when traveling east on East College Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 701 E College Ave, Batesville AR 72501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Arkansas’ Ozark Plateau.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Building, Arkansas College (within shouting distance of this marker); Peed-Ball House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charles R. Handford House (about 400 feet away); Arkansas Methodist Conference (about 600 feet away); Lafferty Memorial Church (about 600 feet away); Batesville During the Civil War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Independence County Office and Library (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Batesville.

Regarding Arkansas College. The college changed its name in 1994 to Lyon College, in honor of a prominent family that had served the institution for more than half a century. Its current campus on Highland Road in Batesville is 1.2 miles northeast of the original campus.

Also see . . .
1. A Brief History of Lyon College. Founded in 1872, Lyon College (then Arkansas College) is the oldest college in Arkansas. (Lyon College) (Submitted on April 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Lyon College. When Batesville lost to Fayetteville in the bid for the state university in November 1871, Rev. Isaac J. Long and other Presbyterian ministers led the effort to establish a denominational college there. (Brooks Blevins, Encyclopedia of Arkansas) (Submitted on April 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 22, 2023

2. Arkansas College Marker

Arkansas College – Original Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 22, 2023

3. Arkansas College – Original Building

It housed part of the college from its 1872 founding until its move to a new campus in 1954.

Original Arkansas College campus image. Click for full size.

via Presbyterian Historical Society Postcard Collection (Public Domain), circa 1907

4. Original Arkansas College campus

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.