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FORT SMITH
What to See & Do
Fort Smith For a Perfect Trip
If you want to be where the New South meets the Old West, plan a trip to Fort Smith -- famous for its hospitality, Blues, barbecue, Bach, broncos, belles and beautiful scenery. It's a city with a colorful and historic past which has grown into a meetinghouse for the past, present and future with its well-preserved frontier spirit. Arkansas's second-largest city, Fort Smith is located on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border and near the junction of Interstates 40 and 540. Named after General Thomas A. Smith, commander of all military forces west of the Mississippi River in 1817, the city's birth year, Fort Smith is nestled along the banks of the Arkansas River and at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. While there, don't miss stopping in at "Miss Laura's." Once called the 'Riverfront Hotel" - just to be proper - this is the only former bordello listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built just before 19090, it was once the most popular place on the city's bawdy Front Street along the Arkansas River. The "house," later renamed "Miss Laura's," has been magnificently restored in Victorian splendor. You won't see the original 'ladies,' but you will be treated royally. (Located at 2 North B Street.
Call 1-800-637-1477 for hours/admission.
Miss Laura's Players
After touring the house, check out Miss Laura's Players. Formed in early 1993, this talented local group presents an original musical comedy skit spoofing life in early Fort Smith during the time of "Hangin' Judge" Isaac Parker and "Miss Laura" herself. It's entitled "Medicine Show on Hanging Day," and the performers are dressed in colorful period costumes entertaining visitors in the dinner theater with a variety of songs, dances, and laughter. (Located at the above address.
For hours/admission, call 1-800-637-1477).
Belle Grove Historic District -
At the Belle Grove Historic District, a 22-square block area bounded by North 5h Street, North H Street, North 8th Street, and North C Street, this area is near the downtown and was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in the early 1970s. Since then at least 40 homes that span 130 years of varying architectural styles have been restored, with some open for tours.
Fort Smith National Historic Site
At the Fort Smith National Historic Site, you'll find two walk-in recreated frontier jails, and new displays and exhibits. The site also contains he remains of two military posts built to keep pace on the frontier when southeastern Indian Tribes were relocated to Indian Territory. The Visitor Center had served as the former barracks building for the second fort, built in the 1830s on the Belle Point area overlooking the Arkansas River. Later, the barracks housed the courtroom of the federal judge for the Western District of Arkansas. The courtroom has been completely restored, and visitors can walk around inside the early basement jail once considered so horrid it was called "Hell on the Border." Adjacent to the restored barracks building is the Commissary Building -- a major military supply center during the mid-1800s. Later, it was used as Judge Parker's chambers. During his 21-year tenure on the bench beginning in 1875, Parker was known as the "Hanging Judge." He presided over 13,000 cases and sentenced 160 men to hang. Of those, 79 died on the gallows which were capable of hanging more than six men at one time. (Located at Third Street at Rogers.
For information/hours, call 479-783-3961.
There are many more sites and attractions. Contact Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2 North B, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901; 1-800-637-1477 for more information and free brochures.
HOT SPRINGS
What to See & Do
The Arts and Historic District of downtown Hot Springs will celebrate 20 years of hosting monthly Gallery Walk receptions
Begun in August 1989, Hot Springs’ Gallery Walk has been a favorite community event, drawing residents and guests downtown the first Friday of each month to enjoy the opening receptions of new exhibits in the area galleries. Featured artists are also often present to discuss their work with guests during the openings.
Gallery features:
Taylor’s Contemporanea Fine Arts, located at 204 Exchange St., will present new works by Warren Criswell, Darrell Loy Scott, James Wu and Thomas Bitista. A special exhibit by John Robinette, a Tennessee artist, presenting his dramatic Delta Scenes, will be featured along with construction in miniature, "The Lost Highway" by sculptor David Malcolm Rose. Since its inception, Taylor’s Contemporanea Fine Arts has been a part of Gallery Walk.
Linda Palmer’s Gallery, located at 800 B Central Avenue will feature champagne, chocolate, and exciting new work by gallery artists: Ellen Alderson, Doyle Young, and Linda Palmer during the Gallery Walk anniversary celebration. Alderson has had her watercolors and pastels accepted in the Delta Exhibition, 4th Annual Arts in the Air Professional Art Exhibit, the Mustard Tree Arts Festival and LSU’s International Exhibition on Animals in Art, all in 2009! Young continues his highly collected watercolor paintings from his “Generations of the South” series, inspired from his extensive travels throughout the Delta regions of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Palmer presents her “Boxed Tulips,” oil paintings from Garvan Woodland Gardens, while she also continues her work on the Champion Trees of Arkansas. Since 1992, Palmer has been an active participant in the arts on Central Avenue. Her collection of the history of the arts in Hot Springs will be showcased at her gallery during the celebration.
Gallery Central, located at 800 Central Avenue, will feature the colorful art glass creations of James Hayes, along with work by nearly 40 other artists creating in a variety of mediums from oil, acrylic, pastel, and watercolor paintings, to wood, clay, and steel sculpture.
Justus Fine Art Gallery, located at 827 A Central Avenue, will be celebrating its fifth anniversary along with the 20th anniversary of Gallery Walk on August 7. “I opened my own gallery in downtown Hot Springs five years ago after having participated as an artist for many years prior. Hot Springs is such a special place for the arts and the monthly Gallery Walk has been such a positive event to keep the artists and community involved and engaged,” stated Dolores Justus.
Featured artists for the celebration will include: Michael Ashley, Kari Albright, Robin Hazard-Bishop, Elizabeth Borne’, Cynthia Bowers, Hugh Dunnahoe, Mike Elsass, Robert Frank, Steve Griffith, Dolores Justus, Rebecca Thompson, and others. Refreshments will be served.
The newest gallery on the Walk is Gallery 726, located at 726 Central Avenue. The co-owners, Shirley Anderson, Barbara Seibel, Sue Shields, and Caryl Joy Young, who are all working artists, will provide a continuous painting demonstration from 5 pm to 9 pm. The gallery also features a fine selection of watercolor, oil, pastel, and acrylic paintings, along with pottery, glass art, turned wood, and handmade jewelry from 13 local and regional artists.
Hot Springs Fine Arts Center, located at 610 Central Avenue, will feature the distinctive floral paintings of Karlyn Holloway during the 20th anniversary celebration. Her technique and style is undoubtedly unique and sometimes void of nature’s representational colors. Some of her most dramatic botanical paintings are of flowers painted in duotones, only browns and blacks. They force the viewer to see beyond the color of the flower and study the linear quality in its petals and leaves. Holloway will also be in attendance to discuss her work during the opening.
Riciano Art Gallery, owned by international artist, Riciano, will be celebrating its Grand Opening during the August Gallery Walk. Over 150 pieces of art by local, national, and international artists including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and black and white photography will be featured. Riciano Art Gallery is located at 833 Central Avenue.
Other participating galleries will include:
Alison Parsons Gallery - 802 Central Avenue
American Art Gallery - 724 Central Avenue
Blue Moon Gallery - 718 Central Avenue
Crystal Springs Gallery - 620 Central Avenue
Attraction Central Gallery - 264 Central Avenue
Xu International - 610 Central Avenue
Hot Springs Mountain Tower Provides Breathtaking Setting For Intimate Weddings
Situated atop Hot Springs Mountain 1,256 feet above sea level, Hot Springs Mountain Tower offers a unique wedding location for parties of 200 or less. The ceremonies take place in the enclosed observation deck at the top of the tower. With a backdrop of 140 miles of beautiful Arkansas countryside, there is no need for decorations.
Tower weddings are typically done in the fall and spring due to the Mountain Tower hours of operation. During theses seasons, couples have the option of renting out the tower and hosting a private ceremony for larger groups. However, weddings can be held during the summer. “In the fall and spring we see the most weddings because the tower is available to rent between 5 and 10 p.m.” explains Huff. “For summer ceremonies, we prefer to keep the wedding parties under 10 people.”
During the summer the mountain tower opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. through mid-August. Admission is $7 for adults (12 and older), $6 for senior citizens (55 and older), $4 for children (5 to 11) and free for children 4 and under. To receive a dollar off admission, please visit hotsprings.org/coupon for a printable coupon. For more information about wedding ceremonies at the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, contact Rose Mary Huff, at (501) 623-6035.
Hot Springs Mountain Tower Provides Inexpensive Family Fun With an Educational Twist and Is Now Open Longer Hours
Hot Springs Mountain Tower is just minutes from the excitement of downtown Hot Springs, and multimedia exhibits provide fun, educational facts. An elevator ride up to the 360-degree enclosed observation deck will give you access to 70-mile views in every direction. When you’re not gazing out over beautiful Hot Springs National Park, a visit to the historical exhibit contained in the tower will let you learn about the construction of Oaklawn Park race track, Babe Ruth’s visits to Hot Springs or the city’s colorful gambling era.
The exhibits were designed by Access Museum Services of Nashville, Tenn., under contract with the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission with the approval of the National Park Service. “This is a great way to spend a hot afternoon, and it is perfect for the entire family,” Arrison said. It is educational entertainment, and there is always something to look at.”
During the summer the Mountain Tower opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. through mid-August. Admission is $7 for adults (12 and older), $6 for senior citizens (55 and older), $4 for children (5 to 11) and free for children 4 and under.
To receive a dollar off admission, please visit hotsprings.org/coupon for a printable coupon.
Miss Arkansas Pageant July 11-14, 2012.
The Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant is an official state preliminary of the Miss America Organization. The Miss Arkansas Pageant has sent a representative to Miss America since 1938. The Pageant was moved permanently to Hot Springs in 1957, at which time it was held outdoors at Oaklawn Park.
Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit corporation that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence.
The Miss America competition exists for the purpose of providing personal and professional opportunities for young American women and promoting their voice in culture, politics and the community.
In addition to conducting the annual national competition, the Organization acts year-round as the nation's leading achievement program and largest scholarship fund for young American women.
Each year the Miss America Organization attracts approximately 80,000 contestants for competition and fosters a large network of more than 300,000 volunteers who organize all state and local competitions to further scholarship and achievement among young women in their communities.
The Miss Arkansas Pageant is co-sponsored by the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation, Inc., the Hot Springs Advertising & Promotion Commission, the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the City of Hot Springs.
For more information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.
LITTLE ROCK
What to See & Do
William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park - and Much, Much More
Although the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park is well worth visiting, there's much more to see and do in Little Rock, the state capital. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the public parks, zoo, public and private golf courses, and the numerous hiking and biking trails. Sports persons will enjoy the professional basketball, football, NCAA Sun Belt Conference competition, and Ray Winder Field, home to the Arkansas Travelers AA baseball team. History buffs can check out the Old State House Museum, the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Arkansas Arts Center, and many more museums and historical landmarks. If music is your love, check out the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Ballet Arkansas and the Arkansas Arts Center.
For more information, contact the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, Statehouse Plaza, P.O. Box 3232, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203; 501-376-4781, or check wet site www.littlerock.com.