Rush Historic District

After the discovery a record-setting 13,000 pound of zinc in Rush, Arkansas in 1883, the town boasted nearly 22,000 residents who flocked to join the mining community. Today, the town is deserted, its aging buildings still towering in the middle of the once-bustling community. Lucky for us, the National Park Service turned it into an incredible hiking destination. The well-maintained hiking trails take adventurers through the old town, with a series of informational plaques attached to the remaining buildings that help tell the story of the Rush Historic District. It's kind of like a field trip through time.  History not cool enough for you? Here's a weird fact: about 50 years ago they discovered eyeless fish in Rush. As it turns out, one of the old locals, Phillip Maine, might be to blame for the strange find. -Roadtrippers Situated along the beautiful Buffalo National River, known for its excellent canoeing, what Rush now lacks metal riches, it more than makes up for in incredible scenery. After the collapse of the ore market in the 1920s, the town quickly dried up, and for years its saloons, general stores, and homes sat in the wilderness, battered by time. Before long, though, the National Park Service stepped in to declare the location as historic, protecting the remaining structures from possible demolition and further decay, and turning the ghost town into one of the most fascinating places to hike. 1300-acre zinc mining town dating from the mid-1880s to the mid-1930s, site has hiking trails with interpretive exhibits. Often referred to as a ghost town, now protected by the National Park Service. The mining days along the Buffalo began in the early 1880s and eventually attracted national attention to the area. Rush was the site of the initial discovery of zinc ore and from development at Rush, mining ventures stretched out across the northwest Arkansas area. The White River steamboats, the stage lines, and later the new railroad lines shared in bringing the outside world to the mineral "belt." Rush was the oldest and most stable mining area of the Buffalo, indeed, of the greater mineral district, and survived economic fortunes up to World War II when mining effectively ceased. A permanent community was clustered at Rush which reached a population of several thousand during World War I. Wherever the terrain seemed possible for ore, mining ventures were started, and thus mines and diggings can be found up and down the Buffalo. Outside of Rush, the more successful were at Cow Creek, Cedar Creek, Maumee, Panther Creek, Mt. Hersey, and the Ponca and Boxley area. The mines in the lower river contained only zinc ore, while the upper river mines had galena associated with the zinc. The Ponca mines were particularly known for lead. During the mining period (1880 to 1940) Buffalo River residents experienced some economic improvement through providing supplies necessary for the mining enterprise, in wages paid to local workers who participated in the mining, and in the construction and transportation facilities necessary for the mining process. Mining revivals were attempted in the 1950 at Ponca and at Rush, but had little success. This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner.