Coffee with Curator

A museum guest recently walked in and asked, “What is the Grand Prairie?”  This week’s Curator topic will answer that question plus much more.

The Arkansas Grand Prairie has definitive geographical boundaries as well as unique soils and natural characteristics.  People have always lived off the land, but over the past 340 years since the European settlers arrived on the Grand Prairie the land has also served as the major driving economic factor, one that has constantly evolved.  We are quite possibly experiencing yet another change now.

Our land is very different from prairie land in Great Plains area as is our history.  That history encompasses the first settlement at the Arkansas Post north to pre-Civil War agriculture in the Hazen area, and trapping, trading, and shipping from river ports in between.  The turn of the 20th century saw the economic boom, bust, and resurgence of row crops.  

Regardless of the period or people, the Arkansas Grand Prairie has always been “A Land of Plenty.”  We hope you will join museum Exhibit and Artifact Coordinator Makena Munger as she shares this story Thursday, April 23.  She will make the presentation in person twice, in the morning at 10am and in the evening at 6pm.  

Admission is always free.  We ask that you let us know you are coming so we can be certain to have ample seating available.  Call 870-673-7001 or email at museumofargrandprairie@gmail.com to RSVP.  

For those supporting the Stuttgart Lions Club shrimp dinner that evening, you are welcome to pick up your dinner, bring it to the museum, and dine while enjoying our presentation.