Special Events Planned At Musuem In Little Rock

— Everyone will step in line this Independence Day at Historic Arkansas Museum’s annual Frontier Fourth of July celebration, Sunday, July 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., featuring an oldtime patriotic parade at 3 p.m. The public is invited to the free event which also includes living history performances and refreshments.

The arts and crafts activities of the afternoon will be patriotic in theme, as visitors create things to use in the parade, such as flags, streamers and signs. Stilts and other pioneer games will also be available for the young and young-atheart. The historic grounds will be alive with costumed re-enactors and living history performances. Children will be invited to train with the militia, using props such as brooms and sticks. Everyone will be invited to join in the parade around the grounds at 3p.m. Museum Director Bill Worthen will regale with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and toasts in honor of the nation’s birthday will be called out from the crowd as was the custom during 19th century celebrations. Festivities will come to an end as visitors are served ice-cold lemonade and watermelon.

Historic Arkansas Museum is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the galleries and parking are free; tours of historic grounds are $2.50 for adults, $1 for children under 18, $1.50 for senior citizens. The Historic Arkansas Museum Store is open 10 a.m. - 4:30p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 - 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Historic Arkansas Museum is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

News, Pages 5 on 06/30/2010