Arkansas travel exhibit on display at Depot Museum
PRESCOTT – Before the “Wild West” of Dodge City and Tombstone, Arkansas was the wild west.
It may be hard to believe, but Arkansas was part of the original wild west frontier in the United States. Of course, this was before Arkansas became a state, but the facts are there, as is shown in a traveling display about Territorial Arkansas. One of the panels states early disputes between politicians was settled by duels.
This 16-panel display can be seen at the Nevada County Depot and Museum from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday until June 28. Curator Judy Duke said the traveling exhibit was purchased with a grant from the Arkansas National and Cultural Resources Council, funded by the Arkansas Real Estate Transfer Tax.
The panels detail the history of Arkansas, from its original spelling of Arkansaw, which was changed in 1822 to the current spelling and how the state’s name was never pronounced “Our Kansas”.
The exhibit will tour the state as part of the bicentennial commemoration of the Arkansas Territory. The exhibits tell of the early politics, life for the settlers, the original native American tribes who lived here and the formation of counties. Originally there were only four counties in Arkansas. It also details how the state’s boundaries were changed. It also tells how Arkansas became the 25th state on June 15, 1836, 17 years after being admitted as a territory.
“We’ve had people come to see it,” Duke said. “It’s an excellent display and money well spent. There’s a lot of information and I feel lucky to have gotten it.” Duke said the display wasn’t initially scheduled to come to Prescott until 2020, but a second set of panels was made, which allowed one set to be shown at the museum here.
Duke also discussed some of her future plans for the museum. Next month she plans on having a “penny candy” store, coloring contest and caboose tours throughout July, with the coloring contest winners named on July 31. There will be three age groups for the contest and prizes for the winners.
She’s also looking at having “A Night at the Museum” complete with characters from the past talking about life in Arkansas back in the day.
Toward the fall, as the weather gets cooler, she’s looking at having Pioneer Days where youngsters can make rag and paper dolls, games and have artisans on hand to talk about pioneer arts and crafts.
