Little Rock We Love | Museum Hopping
Each time you visit a great museum, you give yourself a gift that will keep on giving. It can spark inspiration and bring new perspective. It can open up places in your mind you didn't even know existed. And it may just speak to your heart in some life-changing ways. Little Rock is home to a sundry of fun and fascinating museums. From the ESSE Purse Museum to the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, there's something here for everyone. And, while it's impossible to pick a favorite, we wanted to highlight a few local gems we've visited over the last few months.
The Historic Arkansas Museum, located in downtown Little Rock, is a premier state history museum and historic site dedicated to preserving Arkansas's frontier heritage. It features a unique combination of a modern museum center with seven galleries and an entire city block of original 19th-century buildings. The museum is known for its "Living History" program, where costumed actors demonstrate 19th-century trades like blacksmithing and printing.
Staffers recently attended the 53rd Annual Territorial Fair where they enjoyed delicious cast iron drop donuts and lemon raspberry shrub, played a lively game of chuck-a-luck, made corn husk dolls, and learned about early letterpress in the Woodruff Print Shop. It was like hitching a ride on a time machine! If you are a history buff, have dreams of homesteading, or just want to learn a little Arkansas heritage, this museum is for you. Find out more here!
The mission of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is to create an inclusive cultural space that inspires and builds community through the visual and performing arts. Serving the state of Arkansas and beyond, AMFA provides enriching experiences in the arts for all.
You can wander the halls on your own, or plan to visit during one of their Saturday tours, where a diverse group of docents provide fun, engaging, and memorable experiences for guests. The museum also offers classes for all ages where students can learn many new skills, from painting to pottery. There are drop-in sessions, couples classes, engaging summer art programs for kids, and so much more! Visit their website and start planning your adventure today!
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is located on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park. Their permanent exhibitions chronicle American history at the turn of the 21st century. With interactive exhibits, including replicas of the Oval Office and the White House Cabinet Room, guests will get a first-hand look into the life and work of President Bill Clinton. Special exhibitions range in topic from historic to entertaining and offer a new experience with every visit. And the museum's public programs feature compelling conversations with change makers and influencers, as well as events that bring the community together.