Historical Museum News

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Tanyard Creek Nature Trail

The public is invited to a showing of the documentary recently made by museum volunteer Jack Kellogg about the early 1990s construction of the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail which will be held at the museum at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14. The documentary includes interviews with three of the original volunteers who worked on the trail. Also available for viewing will be a short video donated by Emily Robertson with beautiful photos of the trail. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is free.

Wonderland Cave History

A presentation about the history of Wonderland Cave will be given at the Bella Vista Library at 6 p.m. Monday, June 18, by Xyta Lucas. The Cave was opened as an underground nightclub by the Linebarger Brothers in 1930, was leased by Cooper Communities for 20 years, starting in the 1960s, and was reopened again as a nightclub in 1988 before finally being closed in 1995. The public is welcome to attend the presentation. Admission is free.

Log Cabin Project

Volunteers are being sought for Saturday, June 23, to clean out and around the log cabin that is being donated to the museum later this year. If you can help with manpower or with vehicles and trailers that can haul materials, please contact Xyta Lucas at 479-876-6118 or leave a message at the museum, 479-855-2335. We will meet at the museum at 9 a.m. that day and carpool to the cabin. Since the cabin is surrounded by weeds, participants need to wear boots, long pants and gloves, and must be able to climb a somewhat steep hillside. If it rains, the cleanup will be rescheduled for a Saturday in July.

Fay Jones exhibit

A new special exhibit is now on display, on loan from the State Archives office in Little Rock, focusing on world renowned architect Fay Jones and his work. Jones, a native of Arkansas and resident of Fayetteville at the time of his death in 2004, was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The panels are divided into three sets which introduce Fay Jones, talk about his design process, his influences and more. Pictures of one of his Bella Vista projects, the Cooper Chapel, are included on the panels.

Long-term residents of Bella Vista

The museum staff would like to find the residents who have lived in Bella Vista the longest and recognize them at a future event. If you know someone who has lived in Bella Vista for 30-40 years or more, please contact the museum at 479-855-2335 and leave your contact information.

Gift Shop merchandise

Our new book on the birds of Arkansas has been so popular we have already had to place a second order. We continue to stock our jigsaw puzzles with pictures of the Bella Vista Fire and Police Department vehicles, as well as lake scenes and the Cooper Chapel. Our coloring books have scenes from Northwest Arkansas; our Christmas ornaments were specially made for Bella Vista; and we continue to have our regularly stocked T-shirts, mugs, magnets and more. Everything makes great gifts for both children and adults. We are the best source in town for a real variety of Bella Vista souvenirs.

Private tours available

Private tours of the museum are available outside of normal open hours for church groups, students, 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 located at the corner of Highway 71 and Kingsland, next door to the American Legion, and is open 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. The phone number is 479-855-2335. The website www.bellavista.museum.org.

General News on 06/13/2018