December events
"Let's Talk About Quilts" will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the museum. Bring your quilted treasure to find out its age, value and possible provenance. There will be no charge for this event conducted by certified quilt appraiser Alice McElwain. Formal appraisals can also be arranged.
The movie, "Jesse James," will be shown at the museum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13. The movie was made in Pineville, Mo., and the nearby area in 1938 and starred Henry Fond and Tyrone Power. Families are welcome to take a break from Christmas shopping at that time to enjoy the movie and find out why Bella Vista has a role in the story of the making of this movie. Admission is free.
Fay Jones exhibit
Everyone is talking about the Fay Jones exhibit at the museum, so don't miss out on your chance to see it before it leaves in late December. The exhibit was created in 1999, a few years before Jones' death in 2004, and is on loan to us from the Old Statehouse Museum in Little Rock. It will be moving to the Pocahontas Historical Museum next.
Farm families in early Bella Vista
We would like to hear from people whose families had farms generations ago, in what is now Bella Vista, in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, before John Cooper Sr. began buying up the farms in the 1960s. If you have photos or stories to share, please stop by the museum during open hours (Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.), or leave a message at 479-855-2335, and one of our volunteers will reply.
Settlers cabin
The foundation is finished for the old Settlers cabin, which is being donated to the museum. We are now waiting to find out if the weather will cooperate this fall for the house mover to move the cabin to the museum grounds before winter weather sets in. Donations are still being sought to help pay for the cabin project. If you are interested in helping, please drop off or send to the museum your donation, or go online to www.gofundme.com/cabinfever. Donors of $100 or more will have their names inscribed on a plaque to hang inside the cabin.
Gift shop merchandise
We had a good response to our gift shop merchandise at the Riordan Holiday Bazaar last Saturday, but we still have plenty of merchandise available in our gift shop at the museum, including new Bella Vista embroidered patches, Christmas tree ornaments, baseball caps and more. New items are on order to arrive soon. The museum gift shop is the best place in Bella Vista to get all kinds of Bella Vista souvenirs. Other than Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, we will be open throughout the holiday season, so bring your visitors and enjoy browsing!
2019 memberships now available
You are welcome to sign up for membership in the Bella Vista Historical Society, which operates our Historical Museum, for the calendar year 2019. If you are already a member, please remember to renew your membership by January 1. Dues are $15 per year for individuals, $25 per year for families, and $50 per year for corporate sponsorships. Payment made be made in person, by mail, or online at www.bellavistamuseum.org. Our mailing address is 1885 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista AR 72714. We are a 501(c)3 organization, so your dues and donations are eligible for tax deductions.
Tours and programs available
Private tours of the museum and programs about the history of Bella Vista are available outside of normal open hours for church groups, students, civic clubs, businesses, etc. To arrange for an event, please 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 U.S. 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 is www.bellavista.museum.org.
Community on 11/14/2018