Book signing Feb. 3

Monte Harris and Melba Shewmaker will be at the museum on Saturday, Feb. 3, for a book signing of their book, "Barns of Benton County." Everyone is invited to hear their talk at 2 p.m. about their travels while photographing old barns all over the county. Their book is available for purchase, with a portion of the sales donated to the museum.

History Club Feb. 8

The Bella Vista History Club continues to meet the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the museum. The Feb. 8 meeting will feature Pea Ridge National Military Park ranger Troy Banzhaf as the speaker on "The Pea Ridge Campaign" of March 1862. The History Club has no dues and no officers. It's an interesting way to spend an evening. Refreshments will be provided by the sponsor for the evening, Bank of the Ozarks.

The March 8 meeting will feature speaker Jeanne Stokebrand, past international president of Questors, on the World War II Japanese Relocation Camps in Arkansas.

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.

Rotating Exhibit

The Woodcarvers Club of Bella Vista is featured in the January and February rotating exhibit at the museum, coordinated by volunteer Nancy Bumgardner. 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

More 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 or anniversaries.

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.