Historical Museum News

Book Signing Feb. 24

Linda Pumphrey, the Bella Vista author of "Mountain Mist Historical Quilts," will be at the museum for a book signing on the afternoon of Feb. 24, with a special presentation at 2 p.m. All quilters are invited to attend.

Questers Meeting Feb. 26

The Butterfield Trails Chapter of Questers will hold a monthly meeting at the museum at 1 p.m. Feb. 26. Frank Taylor will present a program on the Mountain Meadow Massacre. The massacre on a wagon train of settlers, mostly from four northwestern counties in Arkansas (Marion, Crawford, Carroll and Johnson), who left Arkansas in April 1857 bound for California, occurred in Utah in September 1857. Taylor is a descendant of one of the survivors of the massacre. The meeting and program are open to anyone interested in learning more about this historic event or about Questers. For more information, contact the chapter president, Connie Fetters, at 479-640-3519.

Annual Meeting March 4

Laura Jennings of the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park will be the featured speaker on the Trail of Tears at the Bella Vista Historical Society's annual meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4. The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Election of officers for the following 12 months will also be held.

History Club March 8

The History Club will meet at 7 p.m. on March 8 and feature speaker Jeanne Stokebrand, past international president of Questers, on the World War II Japanese relocation camps in Arkansas. The History Club has no dues, no officers, and all are welcome.

Rotating Exhibit

The Woodcarvers Club of Bella Vista is featured in the January and February rotating exhibit at the museum. Woodcarver members specialize in a variety of different arts and crafts using wood as the basis of their work. The club display includes full- and partial-relief carvings, wood burning and intarsia, a 1,000-year-old art form still popular today. Several members, including Jean Visnich, Betty Cermak, Tom Diepenbrock, John Brach and Kevin Attleson, have shared their work and provided information about the medium they use.

Museum Gift Shop

Jigsaw puzzles, featuring Bella Vista scenes, including photos of Lakes Ann and Loch Lomond are available at the museum's gift shop. The gift shop also features a variety of other items, including magnets, mugs, T-shirts, postcards, books and more. Keep the shop in mind when looking for those special gifts for Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or other gift-giving occasions.

Memberships Available

Anyone interested in becoming a 2018 member of the Bella Vista Historical Society, which operates the museum, is welcome to stop by the museum to complete a membership form or to sign up online at www.bellavistamuseum.org. All members receive the BVHS quarterly newsletter. Current members are asked to renew for 2018 because members' continued financial support is crucial to the museum and every dollar helps. Annual calendar-year dues are $15 per person or $25 per family. Corporate memberships are also available for $50 per year, with members recognized at the museum and given a window decal to display. There is no paid staff at the museum, so dues and donations are applied to general operating expenses unless a particular project is specified.

Private Tours Available

Private tours of the museum are available outside of normal open hours for church groups, school groups, home-schooled groups, civic clubs, businesses, etc. To arrange for a tour, leave a message at the museum, 479-855-2335, or contact Xyta Lucas at 479-876-6118.

Hours of Operation

The Historical Museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays, except during inclement weather. More information on the Museum is available at www.bellavistamuseum.org or by calling 479-855-2335.

Community on 02/14/2018