By Debi Lander
mail@floridanewsline.com
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a visit to Arkansas, but I’m now big on Little Rock. The vibrant and clean capital city offered visitors many activities and interesting sites.
First up, I was curious about how the city got its name. Seems it derived from a rock formation along the river, named le petit rocher (little rock) by the French explorer Bénard de la Harpe in 1722 to distinguish it from a larger cliff across the river. Well, so much for that story.
My hotel overlooked the Arkansas River, which is crossed by six bridges and has a meandering 11-block riverwalk along its shore (a total 15.7 miles loop.) I soon encountered the fantastic Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, which features more than 80 whimsical and thought-provoking metal works.
A tour of the National Park Historic Central High Site included an impassioned slide show presentation from a National Park ranger that had some of the participants in tears. The riveting story of the Little Rock Nine’s integration struggle captured our hearts. In September 1957, nine 15-year-old black students met the stringent requirements to attend Central High, yet were barred from entering. It took presidential intervention with federal troops and the National Guard to silence the mob and rebellion. While not Little Rock’s proudest memory, the event remains an important step in U. S. civil rights history. The group also walked around the exterior high school grounds as students still attend Central High. The tour finished at the Arkansas Capitol Building nearby. Here, life-sized statues of the nine students grace the lawn and act as a reminder of the past. If time permits, capitol buildings are always excellent.
On a lighter note, I toured the Esse Purse Museum, one of only two purse museums in the world. The handbags and their typical contents were displayed in chronological order as well as by category such as animal skin bags, evening bags, and totes. The little museum offered a fascinating glimpse into women’s fashion through the years.
A quick breeze through the newly redesigned and renovated Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts revealed its use as a public gathering area and museum. The entire structure, an architectural gem, cleverly uses space and entry is free. The glass-walled living room has become a favorite spot where locals come to work or read. The displayed art is chosen from the AMFA Foundation’s 14,000-object collection.
No visit to Little Rock is complete without seeing the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Museum. The facility houses a year-by-year display of events during Clinton’s tenure, backed up by 80 million documents stored in the adjoining archives. Visitors can browse presidential memorabilia and family photos, learn about state dinner protocol, see examples of garments worn, and what gifts are given and received. My favorite part of the library museum is the replica of the Cabinet Room and the Oval Office, as they were during Clinton’s presidency. Sometimes, folks can even sit behind the presidential desk for a photo.
You can’t travel to a city and not taste the local fare. I was especially delighted with the cheese dip at Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro. Seems that cheese dip is very popular in Little Rock and the creamy concoction at Dizzy’s has won the World Championship Cheese Dip title more than once. I loved how it didn’t harden or clump up and yet was not stringy.
If you get a chance to visit Little Rock, it may not rock your world, but I believe you will find something of interest.
Visit www.bylandersea.com to read more of local travel writer Debi Lander’s stories and travel tips.
Photo courtesy Debi Lander
The Arkansas River in Little Rock.
