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Black and White Photographs of Abandoned Places in the Arkansas Delta
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Black and White Photographs of Abandoned Places in the Arkansas Delta

Keith Dotson
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On this road trip, fine art photographer Keith Dotson visits the small communities of Brinkley and Hughes in the Arkansas Delta region

Join Teena and Keith on location in the Arkansas Delta region, where we found a lot of abandoned places to photograph

I recently visited two small towns in the Arkansas Delta, to make photographs of abandoned buildings. The light was terrible — harsh and direct — but I found some really great things to shoot.

I’ve been to the Mississippi Delta many times and it’s one of my favorite places to make photographs, but a lot of people don’t realize that Arkansas is right across the river and it’s also part of the delta region.

Brinkley, Arkansas — population approximately 2,500

Brinkley was founded in 1872 as a railroad town with eventually several railroad lines coming through here. Like the rest of the Delta, it was also a cotton growing region

In recent years, Brinkley has capitalized on outdoor recreation tourism, and has become of special interest to birders because the ivory-billed woodpecker was rediscovered nearby after long being thought extinct. There are also bad eagle nests in the vicinity.

Brinkley is a destination for duck hunters in the winter because of its location in the Mississippi Flyway.

Keith Dotson's black and white photograph of a vintage faded wall ad for Kis-Me-Gum fruit flavored chewing gum

Kis-Me-Gum Wall Ad

Brinkley is home to a wonderful vintage wall ad from the early 1900s. It says,
“The Best Gum Made.”
The Popular brand.
Kis-Me-Gum
Assorted Flavors.”

Kis-Me-Gum was made in Louisville, Kentucky, between 1886 and about 1910 . It was the first fruit flavored chewing gum.

By the street, there’s a separate ad for the Lewis Jeffers Dry Goods Company.

Downtown Brinkley

Panorama of three adjoining storefronts in Brinkley, two with the name Black over the top, and the center building dated 1896.
Panorama of three adjoining storefronts in Brinkley, two with the name Black over the top, and the center building dated 1896.
Black and white photograph of the Black building, 1896, in Brinkley, Arkansas. Photogrpah by Keith Dotson. Fine art prints are available.
Black and white photograph of the Black building, 1896, in Brinkley, Arkansas. Photogrpah by Keith Dotson. Fine art prints are available.
The central structure of the Black building trio, dated 1896, features a decorative stamped metal storefront. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson. Prints are available.
The central structure of the Black building trio, dated 1896, features a decorative stamped metal storefront. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson. Prints are available.
Keith Dotson's black and white photograph of an abandoned building in Brinkley Arkansas, with a hand-painted sign that says "No Drinking on out side. That the Law. You Can Be Arrested by Police."

Look at that awesome hand-painted sign. It says “No Drinking on out side. That the Law. You Can Be Arrested by Police.”

Keith Dotson's black and white photograph of a wonderful old house found on the highway somewhere between Brinkley and Hughes, in the Arkansas Delta.
Keith Dotson’s black and white photograph of a wonderful old house found on the highway somewhere between Brinkley and Hughes, in the Arkansas Delta.

Hughes, Arkansas, population about 1,000

Hughes was incorporated in 1916. A devastating flood in 1927, followed by the Great Depression, caused repeated destruction to the local economy. In WWII, a POW camp established here brought much needed help in the farm fields, with prisoners of war replacing local men who had gone off to fight.

Population declines in recent years have resulted in Hughes schools being consolidated with the West Memphis school districts. School kids in Hughes take a 1-hour bus ride to and from school each day.

Hughes is located on the Arkansas Delta stretch of the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.

Big, two story vacant storefront in Hughes, Arkansas. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
Big, two story vacant storefront in Hughes, Arkansas. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
This old house is a shambles, standing wide-open to the elements, but there's a nice car under the car port. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
This old house is a shambles, standing wide-open to the elements, but there’s a nice car under the car port. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
Zuckerman's storefront, now boarded-up in Hughes, Arkansas. Black and white photogrpah by Keith Dotson. Fine art prints are available.
Zuckerman’s storefront, now boarded-up in Hughes, Arkansas. Black and white photogrpah by Keith Dotson. Fine art prints are available.
Cowan Building, 1926, Hughes Arkansas. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
Cowan Building, 1926 in Hughes Arkansas. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
The old Dollar General Store with vintage Coca-Cola signs still in place, stands on the road leading into town. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.
The old Dollar General Store with vintage Coca-Cola signs still in place, stands on the road leading into town. Black and white photograph by Keith Dotson.

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