Overview
Introduction
Murfreesboro, Arkansas, located 100 mi/160 km southwest of Little Rock, is most noted for the nearby Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only diamond mine in the U.S. What's more, you can dig for the gems and keep what you find. (In 2004, a couple from Rochester, New York, took home a 2.68-carat diamond.)
It's a little touristy, but if you're driving through the area, you might want to try your luck or cool off at the water park.
Overview
Introduction
The medium-sized town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, about 35 mi/55 km southeast of Nashville, is the site of Stones River National Battlefield, where a crucial Civil War engagement was fought in late December 1862 and early January 1863. The bloody three-day affair ended more or less in a draw, but the Confederates were forced to retreat south after the battle, giving up more territory in central Tennessee.
Driving and hiking routes take visitors to several key sites, though much of the actual battlefield is not part of the park. Mufreesboro boasts one of the oldest Civil War memorials (constructed while the war was still being fought), and many of the battle's victims are buried at Stones River National Cemetery in the park.