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Morrilton is a part of Arkansas' pioneer history, dating from the 1800s. It was one of the towns that followed and developed along the path of the early Union Pacific railroad which was its lifeline to the east and west. |
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The railroad no longer has any passenger or even freight stops in Morrilton. But the old depot is in good condition and has now become a museum of local history. |
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The railroad is parallel to the main highway running east and west through the town and has a small siding to serve several pieces of railroad track maintenance equipment that are kept in the town. |
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A sign of Morrilton's early history is this old grain elevator where local crops were stored until they could be shipped by rail to the big city. Now the building is used as a feed and farm supply depot. |
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The railroad has left its mark on the town in many ways. One example is the extremely low viaduct over a street near the city center. |
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The trains also put their mark on the town with their whistles blowing night and day as the frequent trains pass through. The pastor apologized to me because my room was on the front side of the house, facing the tracks, but i grew up with trains passing close to our house in Pewee Valley and the noise wasn't a problem for me in Morrilton. |
