Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center Always Improving and Raising Standards for Patrons
Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center Always Improving and Raising Standards for Patrons –Spring CleaningWork has been steadily proceeding on small projects throughout the Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center this winter. At the Printing Press Café, the staff cleaned and waxed the floors over the Christmas holidays and took several Tuesday afternoons in January to conduct deep cleaning of all equipment and throughout the building. “We want the café to remain clean and tidy for every guest that walks through the door and maintaining the café is the highest priority,” noted Kim Parnell, café staff member.
Later this month, we will be conducting refurbishments throughout the museum and café that include repainting and touching up paint and exhibits. A lot of our exhibits will undergo updating theming and new additions throughout the Spring.Homestead ExhibitAt the museum, work has begun on moving the Homestead exhibit into a new space in the basement of the museum. The new Homestead exhibit will be open every day to all of our visitors and will feature a recreated one-room home from the 1880’s. Visitors will be able to walk into the house and experience a part of what life was like when this area was just being developed. The new exhibit will be opening later this spring.Quilt ShowAlong with the opening of this new exhibit, the museum will celebrate the history of homesteading with a special Quilt Show presented by Barbara Carlson that will open in the Murphy Gallery in April.Education CenterThe Coal House is being converted into the Stowe Easton Education Center. For years, the museum has been conducting educational programs to connect our local students to our rich history and culture. But, we have never had a space where the educational programs could call “home.” These programs have grown and become so popular that it was time for a dedicated space for all of our educational programs. The Coal House is a perfect place for this new home. There is plenty of room for science expiraments, arts projects, and activities that bring our history to life. The new center should be ready to welcome students later this spring.Rodman Street PavilionWork began today on what will become the Rodman Street Pavilion. The Pavilion will feature ground floor space on a portion of the concrete pad once occupying the Family Shoe Store warehouse that can be used for small music concerts, community gatherings and other events.When not in use, it can be used as space for employee parking at the Printing Press Cafe. The upper level of the Pavilion will accommodate enclosed space for a grill and smoker for the cafe, storage for the cafe and museum, and additional work space. It is sorely needed for the museum operations and the community events.In Phase 1 construction, we will lay block for the foundation of the eventual building. Phase 1 construction was made possible by a generous gift from Mauzel Beal. The project has been divided into three phases–phase 1 (block work for the foundation), phase 2 (building construction), and phase 3 (finishing out construction inside on both levels).The Foundation is taking bids for Phase 2 construction now and hopes to proceed once funding is secured. To donate to this project, contact us at 870-373-0083.Thanks for Being a Part of SuccessWe want to thank you for your support! It is because of the partnership with the city of Calico Rock, the generous gifts of our donors, hard work of our volunteers, and support of our community that the Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center is here and successful!—
Calico Rock Museum Foundation104 Main StreetCalico Rock, Arkansas 72519870-297-6100
