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Welcome to the City of Mena
on the Talimena Scenic Drive in Downtown Mena Arkansas

Established 1896

City Hall ~ The City of Mena
520 Mena St., Mena, AR 71953
479-394-4585
 
 

Arthur Edward Stilwell, a dreamer who envisioned a railroad from Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico.  He was born in Rochester, New York, on October 21, 1859.  His grandfather, Hamilton Stilwell was one of the founders of the New York Central Railroad and builder of the Erie Canal.  He was married to Jennie A. Wood.  Young Stilwell took his life savings of $25,000, resigned his position with an insurance company and went west to build a railroad.

Folmina Margaretha Janssen DeGoeijen, Queen of Holland, wife of Jan DeGoeijen.  Jan DeGoeijen was an investor in the railroad formed by Arthur Stilwell.

August 19,1896

Construction began in 1897 and was completed for the grand opening in June of 1898 as a summer resort.  It was originally name the Mount Mena Resort.

Contact Patti Oates personally about having your business added to Main Street Mena  479-394-1111.

From Mena, the Talimena Scenic Drive on Arkansas 88 Scenic Byway travels northwest and
quickly enters the Ouachita National Forest,
climbing Rich Mountain, Arkansas's second highest peak at 2,681 feet,
and passing through Queen Wilhelmina State Park
on its way to the Oklahoma border 18 miles to the West.