Shiloh Museum of Ozark History facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Location | 118 W. Johnson Avenue Springdale, Arkansas |
| Type | History museum |
The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a cool place to learn about the past! It's located in Springdale, Arkansas, and focuses on the history of the Arkansas Ozarks region. The museum offers many fun programs, exhibits, and events for everyone.
It has a huge research library and the biggest collection of old photos in Arkansas. You can visit the library during the museum's regular hours. The museum covers the history of six counties in the Ozarks: Benton County, Boone County, Carroll County, Madison County, Newton County, and Washington County.
Contents
Discovering Ozark History
The Shiloh Museum started in 1968. It began when the city of Springdale bought a large collection of Native American artifacts in 1965. An amateur archeologist was hired to take care of these items. The museum first opened its doors on September 8, 1968, in an old library building.
At first, the museum only focused on the history of Springdale. But over time, it grew! It started collecting items and stories from all over the Arkansas Ozarks.
Growing and Learning
In 1980, the museum hired a full-time professional director. With a more active group of leaders, the museum really expanded. They created new educational programs to get more people involved. Exciting new exhibits were put together. The museum also received seven important grants, which helped it grow even more.
Throughout the 1980s, the museum added more staff and resources. It even won an award for its "Vanishing Northwest Arkansas" program. This program has more than 100,000 historic images!
Historic Buildings on Site
Another exciting addition in the 1980s was a collection of historic buildings. These old buildings were moved to the museum's property. They include:
- An 1850s log cabin
- An 1870s general store
- An 1880s doctor's office
- A 1930s outhouse
There's also an 1870s home that was already there, updated in the 1930s. Later, in the 1990s, a 1930s barn was added. This barn now holds the museum's collection of old farm machines. In 2005, a seventh historic building joined the group. It's called the Shiloh Meeting Hall. It was built in 1871 and used for churches and other groups.
In 1991, the museum moved into its new home. This building is 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) and was also a former library. It's part of the Shiloh Historic District. The City of Springdale mostly funds the museum. Even so, most visitors come from outside the city! The museum has been named "Museum of the Year" four times by the Arkansas Museum Association.
How the Museum Got Its Name
The city of Springdale used to have a different name: Shiloh. This was until 1872. When the town tried to get a post office, they found out another town in Arkansas was already named Shiloh. Because of postal rules, they had to change their name. They chose Springdale because of the many natural springs in the area.
When the museum was created, it was named Shiloh Museum to honor the town's original name. In 1993, the museum's leaders added "of Ozark History" to the name. This helped show that the museum covered the history of the whole Ozarks region.
Museum Awards and Recognition
The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History has won many awards over the years. Here are some of them:
- Arkansas Museum Association 1982 Museum of the Year
- Arkansas Museum Association 1991 Museum of the Year
- American Association for State and Local History 1993 Award for Vanishing Northwest Arkansas Photo Project
- Arkansas Museum Association 1995 Publication of the Year, Shiloh Scrapbook
- Arkansas Museum Association 1997 Best Book of the Year, Shiloh Reflections
- Arkansas Museum Association 2004 Museum of the Year, Budget more than $200,000
- Arkansas Museum Association 2005 Adult Educational Program of the Year, Hola, amigos! Historic Ozarks & Latin American Amigos
- Arkansas Museum Association 2005 Publication of the Year, Shiloh Scrapbook
- Arkansas Museum Association 2006 Adult & Family Educational Program of the Year, Shiloh Podcasts
- Northwest Arkansas Citiscapes Metro Monthly 2007 Best Museum
- Arkansas Museum Association 2007 Publication of the Year, Color the Ozarks
- Northwest Arkansas Citiscapes Metro Monthly 2008 Best Museum
- Arkansas Museum Association 2008 Adult/Family Educational Program of the Year, Shiloh Museum in iTunes U
- Arkansas Museum Association 2008 Museum of the Year, Budget more than $500,000
