Our Ozark Escape in Harrison, AR
Our Week in Charming Harrison, AR
For a week, we settled into a lovely Airbnb in Harrison, Arkansas, a charming town in the Ozarks’ heart.
Known for its natural beauty, Harrison also has a complex history. While it’s often praised as one of the ‘Best Small Towns in America” or “One of The Best Retirement Towns,” it also holds the unfortunate label of “The Most Racist Place in America.” This reputation stems from events in the early 1900s, a dark period the town seems unable to fully shake off. However, we were more focused on experiencing the Ozarks’ magnificent beauty.
Since we had been driving for two days, we were eager to explore without using the car. We strolled through Harrison’s well-maintained residential area towards the historic center, admiring the quaint houses. The landmark Harrison Courthouse Square still breathes last century’s charm. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The slaughter at Mountain Meadows
A monument in Harrison’s town square educated us about a part of America’s troubling history we did not know about, the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
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In 1857, a Mormon militia used native Americans to (later) blame them for attacking and callously murdering emigrants after promising the emigrants safe passage.
Sadly, not much has changed in about 170 years. With extremist views, lies, and fear-mongering, people do commit atrocities.
A Goodbye to the Ozark Mountains
Since arriving last Wednesday, we have been spending each day exploring the beauty of the northern Ozark region by hiking and simply wandering around. And every evening, we enjoyed the comfort of returning to our charming Airbnb, which felt like home.
Date
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Distance
5.77 miles
Moving Time
2:00:54 hours
WEATHER
81°F, sunny, gentle breeze