Things to Do in Texarkana, Texas

The single most Texarkana thing you can do is visit the U.S. Post Office and Federal Building downtown — the only federal building in the country built directly on a state line. A granite marker on the front lawn (a spot locals call Photographer's Island) sits right on the Texas–Arkansas border, so you can stand with one foot in each state for the obligatory photo. The handsome building itself, and the surrounding historic downtown along State Line Avenue, make for an easy and free walking tour.

From there, downtown puts you within steps of the city's cultural landmarks, restaurants, and the heritage sites tied to Texarkana's ragtime history.

The Perot Theatre, at 221 Main Street, is the jewel of downtown. The Saenger Amusement Company of New Orleans built it in 1924 as the Saenger Theatre; the City of Texarkana bought and restored it, with Ross Perot and his sister Bette contributing $800,000 in memory of their parents, and it reopened as the Perot Theatre in 1980. Today it hosts touring Broadway productions, concerts, and the Perot Theatre Series, and it's on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ace of Clubs House is one of the most distinctive homes in the country. Built in 1885 in an Italianate Victorian style, it's shaped like a club from a deck of cards — three octagonal wings and one rectangular wing — and, by local legend, was funded by the winnings from a single lucky poker hand. Recently renovated, it reopened for tours in 2025. It's operated by the Texarkana Museums System, which also runs the historic Ahern Home.

The Texarkana Museums System anchors the city's indoor attractions. The Museum of Regional History, housed in the oldest building in Texarkana, tells the story of the area's railroad and frontier past. For families, the Discovery Place children's museum offers hands-on, interactive exhibits that keep younger kids engaged.

Car enthusiasts shouldn't miss the Four States Auto Museum, which displays vehicles spanning more than a century of automotive history. Together, these museums make Texarkana an easy half-day of indoor exploring, especially welcome on a hot summer afternoon or a rainy day.

Texarkana's biggest annual event is the Four States Fair and Rodeo, a long-running regional fair held at the fairgrounds with rides, livestock shows, concerts, and a PRCA rodeo that draws crowds from across the four-state region. The city's ragtime heritage is celebrated through events and public art honoring native son Scott Joplin.

For outdoor time, Spring Lake Park is the city's historic green space, and Wright Patman Lake, a large reservoir just south of town, offers fishing, boating, camping, and beaches. Between the downtown culture, the museums, and the lake, Texarkana fills a weekend without much trouble.