Dardanelle in Yell County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

The First Presbyterian Church

Dardanelle, Arkansas

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 22, 2025

1. The First Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list.

Location. 35° 13.257′ N, 93° 9.305′ W. Marker is in Dardanelle, Arkansas, in Yell County. It is at the intersection of North 2nd Street and Quay Street when traveling north on North 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 N 2nd St, Dardanelle AR 72834, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Arkansas River Valley

and in the Ouachita Mountains.

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: Historic Downtown Dardanelle (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Yell County First Court House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jefferson Davis Highway (approx. 0.2 miles away); Yell County Council Oaks (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dardanelle Confederate Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Council Oak (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Brearley Cemetery (approx. ¾ mile away); Brearley Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dardanelle.

Regarding The First Presbyterian Church. Excerpts from the National Register

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nomination:

The First Presbyterian Church in Dardanelle has had a colorful past which cannot be ignored; however, its significance is based on its architecture, both the Neoclassical design of the exterior and the “Akron plan” on the interior. The quality of the structure that was built in 1912 is distinctive in this small Arkansas town. …

One of the most interesting stories associated with the First Presbyterian Church is the way in which the money was raised to have the third, and present, structure built. Besides the expected traditional source of private donations from members, the majority of the money came from other, more unusual sources. Part of the money was a reimbursement by the federal government for the utilization and destruction of the original church during the Civil War. An even larger portion was raised by the women of the church who did manual labor such as picking cotton and peaches – and in so doing attracted much attention, including that of a philanthropist from New York City who was to become the largest single donor.

The stories that relate to the actual design of the church are of greater significance. The style is basically Neoclassical, although there are several eclectic details. This is reflective of its “architect” or designer, Reverend Frank McKenzie, who was not an architect at all, but rather a Presbyterian minister.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 22, 2025

2. The First Presbyterian Church Marker
(His brothers were the contractors for the building.) The Reverend McKenzie studied at a seminary in Richmond, Virginia, but also studied ecclesiastical architecture as a hobby. Perhaps this is why the structure that he designed in Dardanelle is representative of the two most popular church styles of the day – Neoclassical and Gothic.

Also see . . .
1. First Presbyterian Church, DardaneUe, Arkansas (PDF). National Register nomination for the church, which was listed in 1987. (Prepared by Evelyn Snyder and AnnieLaura Jaggers; via Arkansas Heritage) (Submitted on August 27, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. First Presbyterian, Dardanelle. Dardanelle's first Presbyterian church was built in 1856 and was burned by Federal troops during the Civil War. A second church was built to serve the community until 1914, when the current church was dedicated. (Jay King, “Arkansas Church” blog, May 3, 2009) (Submitted on August 27, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. The Presbyterian Church in Dardanelle, Arkansas (PDF). The Presbyterian church, on the corner of Second and Quay, is sometimes referred to as "the church built by women." But to begin with the original Presbyterian church, one must go back to April 9, 1843, when a meeting house was built at Norristown for the church that was already organized. (Ernestine Gravley, The
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 22, 2025

3. Dardanelle First Presbyterian Church
Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Autumn 1953), Arkansas Historical Association; via JSTOR) (Submitted on August 27, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.