Orange Street Presbyterian Church

(Muses Cultural Arts Center)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

1. Orange Street Presbyterian Church Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Jenan Mullen and Zac Cothren, 7/23/2001: Orange Street Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas is a single-story brick masonry church building designed in the Classical Revival Style. The rectangular shaped building rests on a continuous concrete foundation and is sheltered by a gently sloped hipped roof that is sheathed in green composition shingles. A massive classical portico supported by four Ionic columns dominates the façade of the church. The front half of the building was constructed in 1913 and is fenestrated with large stained-glass windows. In 1949 a large rear addition was added to the church doubling the building's size. This portion of the building

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

2. Orange Street Presbyterian Church Marker

The marker is mounted on the left side of the front entrance.

is covered with a flat roof and is void of any of the decorative features found on the original sanctuary. The Orange Street Presbyterian Church is the best example of Classical Revival architecture in its area of Hot Springs, Arkansas, a town rich with high style architecture.

The Orange Street Presbyterian Church was founded in 1903 and had a building on the corner of Orange Street and Ouachita Avenue in Hot Springs. The 1905 fire destroyed this building. The congregation rebuilt only to have their new church destroyed by another fire in 1913. Deeply in debt the congregation sold several lots of prime land that it owned and was able to finance the building of a new sanctuary. They purchased a less valuable parcel of land for the amount of $4000 from Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Parker and construction began on a new building at 428 Orange Street. The Presbyterians occupied the church until 1961 when they moved into a new building. The First Church of Christ Scientist purchased the building at that time.

Excerpt:  The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. In 2013, it was announced that The Muses Project was buying the building as a home for its cultural arts center, and the

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

3. Orange Street Presbyterian Church
(southwest elevation)

From the National Register Nomination:  The west elevation is largely hidden from view by the neighboring building. Only a narrow alleyway separates the two structures.

First Church of Christ Scientist was moving to Central Avenue.

Excerpt:  Each year, under the leadership of Founder and General Director Deleen Davidson, the Muses Project presents over 30 multi-arts productions including a series of concert events, aligned with the Four Seasons, representing different artistic disciplines and styles, including: visual art, vocal and instrumental music, dance, poetry and drama. Various seminars and workshops are planned each season for participants to experience creative renewal and deeper understanding of their own need for artistic expression and balance in their lives.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

4. Orange Street Presbyterian Church
(southeast elevation)

From the National Register Nomination:  The south end of the east elevation displays a single stained-glass window topped with a transom light. Next, located centrally on the original church is a ribbon of four stained glass windows — all crowned with transoms. A small window and infilled door mark the end of the original sanctuary. The back part of the elevation is comprised of the 1949 addition. The addition lacks in the ornamentation and stained glass found on the original building.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

5. Orange Street Presbyterian Church (south/front elevation)

From the National Register Nomination:  The sanctuary fronts south toward Orange Street and is dominated by the large centrally located classical portico. Four Ionic columns support a wide pediment that is covered by a shallow-pitched gable roof. The pediment is filled with stucco and has a centrally placed oculus vent. Access to the church is gained through a set of six-panel double doors and features a lintel that is ornamented with a keystone. The original wood doors are centrally located under the pediment and are crowned with a single-light stained-glass transom window. The facade is fenestrated by four single-pane stationary windows, two on each side of the entryway. Each of these windows are stained glass and crowned with stained glass transoms. Decorative brickwork is located above each window and adds to the ornamentation of the building.