Calico Rock Museum Seeking Community Support for Needed Expansion
Calico Rock Museum Seeking Community Support for Needed Expansion
The closets are overstuffed, there’s no room for new exhibits, and big items can’t be accepted. Your Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center has run out of room. To fix the problem, we need to expand and we need your help to do it.
In 2008, the museum had a meager beginning in a room of the Visitor Center with simple exhibits and borrowed items. People who love Calico Rock shared their history and the museum’s popularity grew. The museum soon needed its own building.
When the museum bought the Rand Building, they had $500, no staff, no revenue, and no pledges. Many thought they were crazy, but it succeeded because of strong community support. Since then, the museum has hosted over 115,000 visitors from around the nation and several foreign countries. If each visitor spent $24 in town and each dollar turned over five times, that’s a $13.8 million economic impact over eight years. It’s been a remarkable success for all of us.
Last week, the museum board took steps to buy the historic Floyd’s Grocery building, across the street from the present museum, to create an art and science museum and expand our history museum. They are ready to apply for grants for most of the $50,000 they need to buy and renovate it. But, they must show strong community support.
Here’s where you can help: the museum board is asking 200 people to give just $24 to start the campaign! $24 buys lights for individual galleries or a bucket of paint. And, it will show grant-makers the community supports our museum!
At one time, Calico Rock was falling into the pages of history. Today, our museum is breathing new life into our community. The Art & Science Center will write a new chapter for our community. It will be a premier showcase and will draw a totally new type of tourist, which will continue to grow our local economy.
Donations are 100% tax deductible and can be made in person at the Calico Rock Museum or online at www.calicorockmuseum.com. Of course, larger donations are always appreciated and pledges may be paid over a three-year period of time. To learn more, you can contact the museum staff at 870-297-6100.
(This is such a wonderful worthy cause. I, myself, have family roots in Calico Rock, and family buried there. I have been in the museum and it is an awesome place to spend time with family, friends, or alone. I intend to donate my $24. That is such a reasonable amount. I encourage everyone who loves Arkansas, Izard County, Calico Rock, and being an American, donate for this worthy cause! Ginger)
