Here at the Bauxite Museum, we keep history alive. From the town's earliest days as a mining town in the late nineteenth century to the modern day with its school district, Bauxite has a rich history that we seek to preserve.
Nestled in the heart of Saline County, the town of Bauxite, Arkansas, holds a legacy as rich as the mineral for which it’s named. Established in the early 1900s as a company town for what would become ALCOA, Bauxite grew into a thriving, self-sustained community built on the mining and processing of one of the world’s most important ores—bauxite, the source of aluminum.
From the humble beginnings of ore discoveries in the 1890s to becoming home to the world’s largest alumina refining plant during World War II, Bauxite has played a pivotal role in American industrial history. The museum is housed in the historic Community Hall, affectionately known as "The Hall," once the heart of town life and still a proud symbol of its heritage.
Inside the museum, you’ll find artifacts, photographs, and personal stories that bring to life the everyday experiences of miners, their families, and the vibrant community that surrounded them. From the bustling company store and the only basketball court in the county to patriotic efforts during wartime and the rise and fall of a town built on red rock, the Bauxite Museum preserves and shares the story of a town unlike any other.
We invite you to explore the enduring legacy of Bauxite and the people who made it more than just a mining town—who made it home.