Small Town, Big Heart
Small town living, close to home.
Piggott, AR is a historic train town, located in the Northeast corner of Arkansas. Though it doesn’t boast large populations or attractions, it’s quaint, small-town feel is something you don’t often find.
It starts when you arrive in Piggott. You’ll turn on the courthouse square and notice the multiple small businesses lining it’s streets. You can get a delicious coffee from the City Market. Do some shopping at one of the flea markets or boutiques. Or eat some downhome cooking from restaurants like the Hen House.
And it’s got a history too. Travel not far from the square, just down Cherry Street, and you’ll find the historic Hemingway-Pfeiffer museum. Ernest Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, called Piggott home back in the 1930’s. Visitors can explore the beautifully maintained property, the of-period Hemingway house, and his writing studio where ‘A Farewell To Arms’ was partially written. There’s also the Pfeiffer home, which boasts an extensive mineral collection and garden space, with outdoor spaces and gardens you can explore year round.
And although Piggott is about as far away as you can get from Hollywood, it did have it’s moment on the silver screen. Hemingway’s friend, Otto ‘Toby’ Bruce, recommended Piggott, AR to writer Budd Schulberg. Bud had written the screenplay for ‘A Face In The Crowd’ and was looking for locations to shoot the film. Once he explored the community, with it’s large oak trees and cozy neighborhoods, he knew Piggott was the perfect place to film his movie. Several local residents took part in the movie by being extras, and some folks today still remember when Hollywood came to the small town of Piggott.
Modern day Piggott still has a feel of nostalgia. You’ll drive it’s streets and see kids riding their bikes til’ dark, a 4th of July parade that brings out the whole town, Friday night lights for it’s well attended Mohawk football games, and people stopping to say hello when they bump into you at the grocery store. It is a gem of Americana past, straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. And it’s waiting for you and your family to call it home.