The Boone County Heritage Museum has some excellent updates the community will be proud to share. A state-of-the-art multimedia facility makes history available to anyone of any age or ability.
The Museum began in 1987 and is located in a building that was, for some, the former Harrison High School or the Harrison Middle School. The three-story brick building is beautifully crafted and historical.
That said, it is not easy for individuals to get to the second and third floors without the aid of an elevator. This is a huge deterrent for many out-of-town visitors and locals who desire to see the excellent exhibits on those floors.
According to the website, “In 2019, the museum was awarded a Small Museum Grant funded through the Division of Arkansas Heritage. The goals were numerous, but in a nutshell, it was to gain a Resource Room added-value component achieved with new equipment, initial operating funds, and archival materials to improve the ongoing archival process of our priceless documents, photos, and audio/video recordings. The success of fulfilling the grant objectives has been seen from the beginning and except during the downtime of 2020 with the pandemic, the museum has put these new resources to right-to-work. Early on, the Harrison Junior High EAST Club volunteered their time on the equipment to aid in preservation. Now, with the school club already showing new interest in continuing their previous efforts, we expect calls to begin again soon. So many other projects are underway also. Thank you to the Division of Arkansas Heritage and the hard work of our volunteers who made this new service to the community possible!”
Now, anyone can take a tour of all ten museum exhibit rooms on the three floors. Each video varies in length. Seven videos specialize in the area's military history. Six music videos include the Flood of ‘61 and the Tigers of Lead Hill.
Personal interviews include videos of local celebrities, the neighbors next door, and people who have impacted the area's history.
With more than 133 videos to choose from, it’s challenging to make a decision. Crowd favorites include the historic flood of 1961, which changed the look of Crooked Creek and downtown. The Mountain Meadows Massacre and the History of the Railroad are also captivating.
The museum is planning a grand opening in the Spring to celebrate the completion of the video tour rooms. With the assistance of Dr. Don Crosswhite, the project continues to expand, with new videos being added. Jeff Middleton is the acting Museum Director.
The Boone County Historical & Railroad Society needs to be explored and shared with others. Located at 124 S. Cherry Street in Harrison, its phone number is (870) 741-3312. Winter hours are Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Visit bchrs.org for more information. A $5 admission donation is suggested for non-members, but this does not cover operating expenses. Donations, memberships, and volunteers are vital to the organization.