Texarkana

Some cities, you have to look up on the map. Others? They speak for themselves. Texarkana is such a city, sitting proudly on the Texas-Arkansas border. And when we say “on,” we mean it; the border literally runs through it. Half of its downtown is in Texas while the other half is in Arkansas. Even the U.S. Post Office in the middle of town has two separate addresses, one for each state. Two states for the price of one!

Downtown Texarkana and the Arts & Historic District

The beating heart of the town is the Texarkana Arts & Historic District, a walkable downtown centered on State Line Avenue and the U.S. Post Office & Courthouse that straddles it. Built in 1932-33, the Beaux Arts building is one of the most photographed courthouses in the country, with visitors lining up at Photographers Island to stand with one foot in Texas and one in Arkansas.

Close to the courthouse, you’ll also find the 1894 City Market Building (home to the 1894 Gallery, representing over 90 regional artists), the 1924 Perot Theatre (a 1,400-seat Italian Renaissance performance hall), and enough historic architecture, restaurants, and shops to make a full weekend of it.

The Perot Theatre and Texarkana's Music History

Named for businessman, presidential candidate, and native of Texarkana, Ross Perot, who funded its restoration in the 1980s, the Perot Theatre is Texarkana's cultural centerpiece. It opened in 1924 as the Saenger Theatre, sporting an Italian Renaissance design by New Orleans architect, Emil Weil. In its early years, it hosted Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash; today, the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra maintains operations there, and the theater's calendar includes classical music, ballet, jazz, Broadway shows, and rotating touring acts. As if that wasn’t enough, Texarkana’s place in music history is further cemented by being the birthplace of ragtime composer, Scott Joplin.

Annual Events in Texarkana

Texarkana's event calendar doesn’t let up all year. The Four States Fair and Rodeo, running since 1945, brings ten days of carnival, livestock shows, and rodeo action every spring. Pickle Fest Texarkana debuted in September 2025 with more than 120 vendors (heavy emphasis on pickle-inspired goods) and has already become a fall fixture.

The Christmas Parade and Christmas on Main transform the city into a Texas snow globe, complete with ice skating, food trucks, and holiday movies at the Perot Theatre. Oh, and let’s not forget about The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the Perot throughout the concert season.

Getting to Texarkana

Texarkana sits at the intersection of I-30 and US-59/71/82, 180 miles northeast of Dallas and 130 miles southwest of Little Rock. Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK) provides commercial service. The city is also a stop on Amtrak's Texas Eagle route, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles.