I’ve toured this museum at least six times before, including visits with my wife in 2009 and 2022. But I heard there was a special exhibit this summer called Arkansas250, which I thought might have something to do with the “semiquincentennial” or “sestercentennial” (depending on what authority you prefer) celebration of American independence.
What it turned out to be was an explanation of the various state nicknames Arkansas has had over the years with a bunch of random historical artifacts. Not was what I was expecting, but fairly interesting. I’m glad it was free. Here, because I know you were wondering, is what I found out.
Here are just a few of the artifacts:
An old hand-painted state seal.
The sponsor of King Biscuit Time, one of the longest-running radio shows anywhere. It began in 1941 and is still going today, playing blues music.
A suit Johnny Cash wore for the bicentennial in 1976, his guitar, and a pair of his alligator boots.
I wandered through the rest of the museum, but I didn’t linger since I’d seen it all before. And how many times can one really enjoy a display of the inaugural ball gowns of governor’s wives?