A Multifaceted History
The history of commercial diamond mining in Arkansas is complex and fascinating. Through much of the 20th century, the land that makes up today's diamond search area was divided. It was bought, sold, and leased numerous times. Local farmer John Huddleston once owned the larger southern portion of the diamond-bearing crater. After finding diamonds here in 1906, Huddleston sold his farmland to a group of investors who incorporated the Arkansas Diamond Company, the first of many organized mining ventures in this area. Millard Maunty, Huddleston's neighbor to the north, also owned several diamond-bearing acres. Mauney mined a portion of his land with his sons and leased other sections to commercial mining interests such as Austin Millar and his son Howard. The Millars founded the Kimberlite Diamond Mining and Washing Company in 1911 and mined diamonds in Arkansas for more than 50 years. The restored mineshaft building to the north covers a collapsed 60-foot-deep shaft that Austin Millar reportedly dug to search for diamonds below the surface. Today Crater of Diamonds State Park is still home to historical sites, including the mineshaft building and Martin Plant foundation, which represent more than 50 years of commercial diamond mining, Interactive exhibits in the visitor center- museum offer more insight into the unique history of diamond mining in Arkansas.