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 Saturday, Feb. 24, with a special presentation at 2 p.m. Linda is known for her hand quilting, for which she has won international awards. Her book has a very Bella Vista feeling because all the lifestyle photos were taken in this area. All quilters are invited to attend.

Mountain Massacre Feb. 26

The Butterfield Trails Chapter of Questers will hold its monthly meeting at the museum at 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26, with speaker Frank Taylor on the Mountain Meadow Massacre. The massacre of 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.

Trail of Tears 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.

WW II Japanese Relocation Camps March 8

The History Club meeting at 7 p.m. on March 8 will 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 and admission is free. Everyone is invited.

Rotating Exhibit -- Woodcarvers Club

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 art-crafts, using wood as the basis of their work. The club display includes full- and partial-relief carvings, wood burning and intarsia, which is a 1,000-year-old art form still popular today. Members Jean Visnich, Betty Cermak, Tom Diepenbrock, John Brach and Kevin Attleson have shared their work and provide information about the medium they use.

Museum gift shop

A variety of Bella Vista souvenir items are available for purchase, including jigsaw puzzles that feature photos of Loch Lomond, Lake Ann and other Bella Vista scenes, plus magnets, mugs, T-shirts, postcards, books and more. Payment by cash, check, credit card or debit card are all accepted. Keep the gift shop in mind for birthday presents, anniversaries or other gift-giving occasions.

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 and businesses. To arrange for a tour, leave a message at the museum, 479-855-2335, or contact Xyta Lucas at 479-876-6118.

Memberships available

Memberships are available now for first-time members or renewals for 2018. Payment may be made in person at the museum using cash, check, or credit card or by mail with a check payable to the BVHS. More information is available at www.bellavistamuseum.org/bellavistamuseummembership.

Hours of operation

The Historical Museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, see www.bellavistamuseum.org or the museum's Facebook page. Phone 479-855-2335.

Community on 02/21/2018