History of The Aud

The Eureka Springs City Auditorium was built at a pivotal time in Eureka Springs history. In 1928, then-mayor Claude A. Fuller, working to move the city into a new era, thought a civic auditorium would be an ideal addition to the downtown landscape. He entrusted the project to prominent architect A.O. Clarke, who designed an extravagant structure. Construction cost $90,000 (about $ 1.5 million in today’s money). Just weeks before the stock market crash of 1929, Eureka Springs’ shiny new state-of-the-art venue opened, hosting its first concert. Composer/conductor John Philip Sousa, the “American March King,” brought along a 67-piece band to perform catchy patriotic numbers like “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The Washington Post March”. 

 

The Auditorium quickly became the center of the community, hosting high school basketball games in the gym, Saturday night dances, concerts, plays, operas, and more. Over nearly 100 years, The Aud has welcomed both local and legendary talent, including Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Judy Collins, and Little Feat.

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Become part of The Aud's story, and experience a show in this breathtaking historic auditorium.