Altus in Franklin County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
First Site of Hendrix College
Photographed by Adam Bartlett, June 14, 2026
1. First Site of Hendrix College Marker
Here in Altus the Central Collegiate Institute was founded October 31, 1876 by The Rev. I.L. Burrow. This institution was taken over by the Methodist conference in 1884, the name was changed to Hendrix College in 1889. Rev. I.L. Burrow became the first president of the college in 1884. It was moved to Conway in 1890.
Erected 1936 by Arkansas Centennial Commission. (Marker Number B-23.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Arkansas Centennial Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 31, 1876.
Location. 35° 26.257′ N, 93° 45.763′ W. Marker is in Altus, Arkansas, in Franklin County. It can be reached from West College Street west of North Roseville Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the campus of the Ozark Middle School east of the gymnasium building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18 W College Street, Altus AR 72821, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Arkansas River Valley
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: O'Kane-Jacobs House (approx. 0.4 miles away); German-American Bank (approx. 0.6 miles away); Skirmishes at Roseville (approx. 4.8 miles away); Trail of Tears Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Missouri-Pacific Depot, Ozark (approx. 4.8 miles away); Bristow Hotel (approx. 4.9 miles away); Charlie Battery 2/142 Field Artillery (approx. 4.9 miles away); In Memory of our Friends Lost in Korea, Vietnam & Iraq (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altus.
More about this marker. Site may have limited access hours during the school year due to campus security concerns. Site is not fenced
Photographed by Adam Bartlett, June 14, 2026
2. First Site of Hendrix College Marker
Regarding First Site of Hendrix College. After Hendrix College moved to Conway, the campus was used by the short lived Hiram and Lydia College until it's closure in 1906. In 1906, the Altus School District moved into the campus. The main building was used as the high school until the building burned on February 5, 1909.
The campus was used by the Altus, and later Altus-Denning school district as a high school campus until 2005, when the district was consolidated into the neighboring Ozark School District, and converted into a middle school campus. Few to no historic elements from the use as a college campus remain, most buildings are ca 1980.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Hendrix College (Encyclopedia of Arkansas). (Submitted on October 12, 2026.)
2. Photograph of the main building fire of 1909. This photo is provided by Hendrix College and shows the main administrative building from this college burning in 1909. (Submitted on October 12, 2026, by Adam Bartlett of Austin, Texas.)
3. Hendrix College, Altus, Arkansas - 1883. Photo of main building on the Hendrix College campus in Altus, ca. 1883. (Submitted on October 12, 2026, by Adam Bartlett of Austin, Texas.)
Photographed by Adam Bartlett, June 14, 2026
3. First Site of Hendrix College Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2026, by Adam Bartlett of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Last updated on October 12, 2026, by Adam Bartlett of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 12, 2026, by Adam Bartlett of Austin, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
