Texarkana

Texarkana is commercially and culturally one city, but is two separate municipalities, one in Texas and one in Arkansas. The Federal Building is the only one of its kind in America. Photo Island on State Line Avenue in front of the post office is a popular photo spot as tourists can stand with one foot in Texas and one in Arkansas.

The Nation’s only bistate Justice Center serves two states at State Line Avenue and Broad Street. The Center houses courts and jail for two states, two counties and two cities. Like the Post Office, Justice Center is built squarely on the Arkansas-Texas line.

The city is the home of Texarkana Community College and Texas A&M Univeristy – Texarkana.

A Scott Joplin mural, at Third and Main Streets downtown, colorfully depicts the life and accomplishments of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical pioneer from Texarkana. In the first two decades of the 20th century, Texarkana’s Joplin was America’s “King of Ragtime.” Joplin’s works have been recently rediscovered. He is best known as the composer of “Maple Leaf Rag,” and his music was used as the theme in the movie, “The Sting.”