2025 Anniversaries in Arkansas
From popular festivals to historic commemorations, Arkansas is ready to celebrate in 2025. Learn more about the festivals, performances and other events that mark a milestone anniversary this year.
Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa Centennial
The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa, located at 239 Central Avenue in Hot Springs, is the largest hotel in Arkansas. The present Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa opened December 31, 1924 and a gala New Year’s Eve dinner dance was held at that time to mark the occasion. For more details visit arlingtonhotel.com.
160th anniversary of the Sultana disaster
April 2025 marks the 160th anniversary of the Sultana disaster. On the early morning of April 27, 1865, the SS Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis. It became America’s greatest maritime disaster, killing nearly 1,200 of the nearly 2,400 passengers onboard. Many of those were former Union soldiers, on their way home following the end of the Civil War. The boat sank near Marion, home to the Sultana Disaster Museum.
210th anniversary of the survey of the Louisiana Purchase
October 2025 marks the 210th anniversary of the survey of the Louisiana Purchase. The official land survey began in October 1815, when two land surveyors, Prospect Robbins and Joseph Brown, set out on their journey from the Mississippi River. On November 10, 1815, Robbins crossed the baseline that had been set by Brown, who had already proceeded to the west of that point. This Initial Point is located in Louisiana Purchase State Park near Brinkley.
90 years for the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival
The World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival in Stuttgart is one of the biggest and best festivals in the Arkansas Delta. In 2025, the beloved festival celebrates 90 years. Thousands from across the country flock to the event to celebrate the town’s moniker as the “Duck Capital of the World!” The festival is held Thanksgiving week. The festival also hosts the World Championship Duck Gumbo Cook-off. In addition to the world-class calling competitions, the event features a carnival, sporting goods and collectibles shows, arts and crafts and a variety of exhibits.
Opera in the Ozarks turns 75
Opera in the Ozarks , a renowned training program for aspiring opera professionals, celebrates its 75th anniversary season in 2025, along with the inaugural season of its new state-of-the-art theater in 2025. Funded by a $34-million grant from the Walton Family Foundation, the new theater will seat 300. This modern facility enhances the performance experience for both artists and audiences. It preserves the program’s hallmark intimate audience experience while improving comfort and production capabilities. The facility will also include a rehearsal hall,practice rooms, expanded production shops, and new faculty housing.
The project aims to attract a new generation of aspiring performers while honoring the program’s seven-decade legacy of nurturing talent. Alumni, including stars of the Metropolitan Opera, credit Opera in the Ozarks as foundational to their careers. This new space will provide artists with a stage befitting their talents and enhance the cultural offerings for the Northwest Arkansas region.
Old Main celebrates 150th anniversary
In 2025, the University of Arkansas will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Old Main, its oldest and most iconic building. Completed in 1875, Old Main is a testament to the university’s enduring legacy and architectural heritage.
Designed by Chicago architect John Mills Van Osdel, Old Main showcases the Second Empire architectural style, characterized by its distinctive mansard roof and ornate detailing. A notable feature is the building’s asymmetrical towers: the taller north tower and the slightly shorter south tower, which together create a striking silhouette against the Fayetteville skyline.
For many years, the south tower lacked the clock it was originally designed to hold. Remarkably, this clock was not installed until 2005, 130 years after the building’s completion, fulfilling the original architectural vision.
Old Main continues to embody the spirit and history of the University of Arkansas, standing as a beacon of education and tradition for generations past, present, and future.
Maxine’s Tap Room marks 75 years
In 2025, Maxine’s Tap Room in Fayetteville will celebrate its 75th anniversary, marking a significant milestone for this cherished fixture in Fayetteville’s rich history. Founded in 1950 by Maxine Miller, a pioneering businesswoman, the bar quickly became a beloved gathering spot in the community. Maxine’s unwavering presence and commitment to proper conduct set the tone for the establishment, making it a cornerstone of local culture.
After Maxine’s passing in 2006, the bar faced challenges, including a fire requiring extensive renovations. In 2013, a new partnership revitalized Maxine’s Tap Room, transforming it into a cocktail lounge while preserving its historic charm. Today, it continues to serve as an iconic and beloved gathering place where live music, drinks, and friendships flourish, honoring Maxine Miller’s enduring legacy in the heart of Fayetteville.
Cosmic Cavern discovered 180 years ago
Cosmic Cavern was discovered 180 years ago. On Sept. 4, 1845, John Moore and his two sons prospected for lead in the Ozark Mountains near Indian Creek, just north of present-day Berryville. They didn’t find the lead they were looking for, but they did find a cave. They named it after themselves - Moore’s Cave. It’s had many names since then, including Bear Cave, Maple Springs Cave, Joe Johnson Cave at Sycamore Hollow, Majestic Cave, Mystic Cave, and Mystery Cave. Today, it is known as Cosmic Cavern and is Arkansas’ largest, privately-owned show cave containing the Ozark’s largest underground lake.
According to current owners, Randy and Anita Langhover, early explorers found the floor of the first chamber of the cave and a subterranean lake below the 200-foot opening. In the 1880s, the Ewell family homesteaded above the cave and mined “cave onyx,” which they carved into little figurines and jewelry to sell in Eureka Springs. In the 1920s, the mining was resumed by teenage boys. They shipped the cave onyx by train to become the gear shift knob of the Model A Ford. In 1927, a stairway into the cave was built for the first cave tours to begin. Through the years more and more of the cave was discovered and developed.
But the biggest discovery came in 1993, when Randy Langhover discovered a whole new section of the cave, more than 1,000 feet, and another subterranean lake. This doubled the tour through Cosmic Cavern and added a whole new experience featuring the “Oh My God” room, named after Randy’s words upon discovery. This new section was featured by CBS and also filmed by Imax for the Branson theater.
The Langhovers, who have owned the cave since 1980, say that’s just a nutshell of the history. There are many wonderful stories and tales of Cosmic Cavern that the guides share with visitors during tours.
The cave tour is approximately a one-hour and 15-minute walking tour in the warmest cave in the Ozarks, at a steady temperature of 64 degrees and 96% humidity. The cave features a nine-foot soda straw, the longest known in the Ozarks, and two bottomless cave lakes. The first lake, South Lake, has had trout in it for nearly 50 years. Some of the trout have gone blind and most have lost their color.
Don’t forget your camera when you visit. The Silent Splendor room has pristine cave formations that photograph well on phone cameras.
In addition to a general tour, visitors can also opt for a Wild Cave Tour and take part in gemstone panning. If you visit in the winter months, look for both golden and bald eagles in abundance around the cavern area. Cosmic Cavern is located on AR 21 N. in Berryville.
Hope turns 150
Hope is 150 years old in 2025. More details about the history of the town can be found at https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/hope-895/. More details about Hope can be found at https://tourism.hopeusa.com/see-and-do/.