The Cornwell House was built in 1889 as part of the Arkansas Summer Normal School program. Arkansas's State Department of Education sold the house to the Kimball family in 1907 when the Normal School programs were consolidated at the Arkansas Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The Cornwell family purchased the home in 1916 from the Kimball family. The house and lots were exchanged for other lots and became part of Mount Nebo State Park in 1997. The Cornwell House now contains exhibits on the history of Mount Nebo and the surrounding area.