Museum introduces new displays

Courtesy of Xyta Lucas Former Bella Vista resident Gene Heezen delivers to Carole Harter, director of the Bella Vista Historical Museum, the Dance Pavilion model he recently built.
Courtesy of Xyta Lucas Former Bella Vista resident Gene Heezen delivers to Carole Harter, director of the Bella Vista Historical Museum, the Dance Pavilion model he recently built.

The Bella Vista Historical Museum recently received the donation of several new permanent exhibits.

A model of the Dance Pavilion, which was originally part of the old Lake Bella Vista Summer Resort, was built and donated by Gene Heezen.

A former resident of Bella Vista, Heezen designed and built the model at his home in Minnesota.

He has crafted a large number of models over the years, including the Sunset Hotel model and the Arkansas Traveler exhibit, both of which have been on display for several years at the museum.

A model of the old Stables, formerly located where Cooper Elementary School with its red barn architecture now stands, was built and donated by Fran Jones.

She is a local resident and member of the Butterfield Trails chapter of Questers in Bella Vista.

To accompany the Stables model, the museum recently obtained a large canvas print from local artist Charles Harrington of the picture he painted of the Stables just before it was torn down in 2006.

Another recent donation was that by James Chase of Fayetteville, a retired history professor from the University of Arkansas, who gave the museum a large number of antique postcards and also paid to have two groups of them framed for a wall display.

All of the exhibits representing the 100-year history of Bella Vista can be viewed Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m.

The museum is located at the corner of U.S. 71 and Kingsland Road, next door to the American Legion. Admission is free.

See www.bellavistamuseum.org for additional information.

General News on 10/01/2014