Are you ready for a year-long birthday party? We hope so because Texarkana turns 150 in 2023! Founded on December 8, 1873, the city is still looking good a century and a half later. There are lots of fun, local ways to celebrate the sesquicentennial, and we hope you join in, whether you live here or are just passing through.

Here are some of the ways Texarkana is commemorating its 150th birthday throughout the year.

Texarkana Sesquicentennial Community Quilt - Texarkana Museums System

The Texarkana Museums System (TMS) is kicking off the sesquicentennial by creating a community memory quilt from pieces of fabric Texarkana, AR, locals bring in. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the event and bring a piece of fabric that has sentimental value to them to add to the quilt. TMS is hosting the event at the P.J. Ahern home on Saturday, January 28, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Learn more about the quilt and the event here.

From Their Texarkana to Our Texarkana - Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council

The Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council (TRAHC) is looking for artists to participate in its exhibit “From Their Texarkana to Our Texarkana: A Reimagining of Photographic Images.” The artists who are chosen will be assigned one of 15 photographs (one per decade, starting in 1873) from the TMS archives to reinterpret into a piece for the exhibit. Applications close on February 13. More information about artist applications and the exhibit’s process is available here.

Centennial Time Capsule and Sesquicentennial Festival - Texarkana Sesquicentennial Committee

The Texarkana Sesquicentennial Committee (TXK150) has planned a series of events throughout 2023 to mark Texarkana’s 150th birthday, and the Centennial Time Capsule and Sesquicentennial Festival are just the start. Both events are scheduled for Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, in downtown Texarkana, AR. Learn more about the committee and the events planned here.

Sesquicentennial Ball - Texarkana Sesquicentennial Committee

TXK150 has also planned a Sesquicentennial Ball on Saturday, July 8. The ball is part of a series of events the committee has planned throughout the year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Texarkana. Find more information about the sesquicentennial committee and the events it has planned here.

Founder’s Week Celebration - Texarkana Sesquicentennial Committee

To cap off Texarkana’s 150th year, TXK150 has planned a weeklong Founder’s Week Celebration. The festivities will kick off on Monday, December 4, and will wrap up on Sunday, December 10. More information about the committee’s events can be found here.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest information about the sesquicentennial events, and tag us in your photos to show us how you’re celebrating 150 years of Texarkana!