Members who have roots in Benton County are helping to keep its history alive and in front of the public during the current period of tremendous growth. 

The Society has also assumed responsibility for maintaining historical markers and monuments which BCHS helped to erect throughout Benton County.  These markers and monuments permanently identify the location of Civil War battles and other historic incidents. 

Membership is open to everyone interested in the history and heritage of Benton County.

The society exists to promote multi-generational awareness, understanding and appreciation of the written and oral history of Benton County, Arkansas and contiguous areas. To attain this goal BCHS seeks to position itself as the pre-eminent source of Benton County historical information.
 

General Meetings feature programs with historical themes, presented 'live' by invited speakers.  These meetings are held at the Peel Mansion - or at other locations in the County - from 2:30 to 4:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. 
 

All General Meetings are open to members and the public and  admission is free.  News releases in the media will remind everyone of forthcoming meetings and announce programs and speakers for a specific date.

The Historical Society is located  in the historic Center at Compton Gardens, 312 N. Main St., Bentonville, Arkansas.  (The headquarters have recently moved there from the Peel Mansion.)

  
   A winter view - click image for full photo.

The Historical Society's headquarters at Compton Gardens is open Tuesday through Saturday (10 AM to 4 PM) from March through November and 11 AM to 3 PM in December through February (except during holidays and bad weather) by volunteers from the Benton County Historical Society or the Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society. 

BCHS members and the public are welcome to do research in the historical and genealogical archives.  They can also obtain back issues of The Pioneer and other historical publications for sale there.  During holiday seasons it is a good idea for intended visitors to phone ahead to make sure the archives will be open at the expected time.

Membership
New members are welcome.  We have members located in most of the 50 states.  Member benefits include a full-year subscription to The Benton County Pioneer, use of the library at our office in the Compton Center, and assistance from local volunteers in looking up historical information.

To obtain a membership form, just click here to view a copy, then enter Ctrl-p to print it.

  

The Benton County Pioneer
The Benton County Pioneer - published continuously since 1955 - is our quarterly magazine, featuring authentic stories, photos, and accounts of earlier Benton County.  Enjoy articles about early day residents and their families, plus a wealth of genealogical information.  Index volumes are available for ease of research.  Please inquire for printed versions of multi-year name indexes of the Pioneer.

Online Pioneer Resources:
Click here to view and search annotated tables of contents for the first 55 issues (Vols. 1-10: 1955-65). These online files are word-searchableand google-searchable, so you can quickly find topics of interest - in context. 

Click here to view and search  annotated tables of contents for 20 recent issues covering 1999 thru 2003 (Vols. 44 - 48).

Please click here for a complete name index of  Volume 47 (2002) of the Pioneer.  Information for later  issues will be added to the website as made available.  Also see complete name index in the Fourth Quarter issue of each recent volume. 

Back issues of The Benton County Pioneer, are available for $5.00 each, postage paid, Contact us to order back copies or article reprints. 

The special, double-size, "Civil War Centennial Issue" (Volume 7, No. 3 of 1962) is $12.00, postpaid.  Click here to review the annotated table of contents.

1889 Goodspeeds (Benton County History)  Newly reprinted by BCHS, accompanied by a complete index.         $25.00

Handling the Mail in Benton County, Post offices (1836-1976) and their history, including postmasters. 
(136 pages)                                                               $6.00

1860 Census of Benton County: Arranged by Townships - as the census- takers wrote it.  Published by the BCHS.
(95 pages, plus index)                                           $15.00

Obituaries of Benton County, Arkansas, Compiled by Barbara P. Easley & Verla McAnelly.  Provide insight on the medical and social history.  All volumes are indexed. 

Benton County has enjoyed tremendous growth since the late 1980's. Between 1990 and 1997 the population increased by more than 34% to 130,000. The population growth has included significant numbers of Hispanics and other ethnic groups attracted by employment opportunities. Major changes affecting Benton County include the opening of XNA, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (November 1998); an improved connection to the Interstate highway system (January 1999); and inauguration of a major water supply link to boost development in the western part of the county. 

To supplement this history capsule, you can download a free copy of the Benton County Timeline, 1541-1999.  This document, in Adobe pdf format,  chronicles the eventful 4 1/2 centuries from De Soto and the Louisiana Purchase to the near-simultaneous openings of XNA, I-540, and the Two-Ton Loop. 

The Benton County Historical Society seeks to promote awareness of the county's history by all generations while preserving the most important components of our heritage. 
A copy of the society's BCHS Bylaws is also available for downloading in Adobe pdf format.