Historic Arkansas Museum facts for kids
Hinderliter House,
part of the Historic Arkansas Museum |
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| Established | 1941 |
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| Location | 200 E. Third Street Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Type | History museum |
The Historic Arkansas Museum, also known as HAM, is a history museum located in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. It tells the story of Arkansas from its early days.
The museum was created in 1941. It was part of a big project to restore old buildings. A special group, led by Louise Loughborough, helped make it happen. They wanted to save several old houses in Little Rock. One of these was the Hinderliter House. This house is believed to be the oldest building in Little Rock.
Louise Loughborough had a great idea. She promoted Little Rock as a "town of three Capitols." These were the Hinderliter House, the Old State House, and the current Arkansas State Capitol Building. It's a popular story that the Hinderliter House was the last place the Arkansas Territorial Legislature met. However, no one knows for sure if this is true.
With help from a government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the state government, and private donations, the museum opened its doors on July 19, 1941. Architect Max Mayer helped restore the historic buildings.
The museum has special gallery spaces. It also includes several historic buildings that were originally on the site. Some log cabins were even moved there from other parts of the state. The museum used to be called the Arkansas Territorial Restoration. Its name changed in 2001 after new exhibits and updates were finished. The Historic Arkansas Museum is also connected to the Smithsonian Affiliations program. This means it works with the famous Smithsonian museums. The museum property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.
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What Can You See at the Museum?
The Historic Arkansas Museum has many different collections. These items help visitors learn about Arkansas's past.
Art and Paintings
The museum has a collection of art and paintings. These works show different styles and periods. They include pieces by artists like Elsie Freund and Henry Byrd. These artworks help tell stories about life in Arkansas through the years.
Furniture
You can see many pieces of 18th-century furniture at the museum. This includes chairs, large closets for clothes, library tables, and even special sugar chests. Most of these furniture items were bought with money from a special fund called the Loughborough Trust.
Old Guns
The museum has a small collection of 18th-century guns. These include different types of pistols and rifles. Some examples are a Percussion Pistol from 1860 and a Colt Navy Revolver from 1860. These items show the kinds of weapons used in the past.
Hunting Horns
There are also several old hunting horns on display. These horns were used for hunting. Some examples include the "Arkansas Traveler Hunting Horn" from 1880 and a "Hunting Dog Ornamented Hunting Horn" from 1860.
Jewelry
The museum's jewelry collection includes items like Bracelets and Pendants made by Elsie Freund. You can also see a hair brooch from 1868 and a Pocketwatch from 1870. These pieces offer a glimpse into the fashion and personal items of people long ago.
Knives
The museum has ten bowie-style knives. These knives are famous in Arkansas history. The collection includes knives made from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.
Photographs
The museum holds many historical photographs. These pictures show people, places, and events from Arkansas's past. They include works by photographers like B.S. Alford and Diehl and Kennedy.
Pottery
You can find various pottery pieces at the museum. This includes items like a Blue Crackel Vase from 1925 and a Bowl made by Niloak Pottery from 1925. There are also old churns and Jars. These items show how people made and used pottery in their daily lives.
Caddo Pottery
The museum also has a special collection of Caddo pottery. The Caddo people are Native Americans who lived in the region. These pottery pieces were made between 1500 and 1600. They are an important part of the museum's collection, showing the rich history of the Caddo culture.
