Lego Build Tinker Time planned at museum

SMACKOVER — All engineers and architects and other interested persons are invited to join the staff at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources at 1 p.m. on Saturday, to reconstruct the 1920, according to Pam Beasley, museum superintendent.

She explained that, using Legos, participants will learn a bit of south Arkansas history and construct buildings and other architectural pieces from the “boom days.” After oil was discovered in south Arkansas, the population grew dramatically, thus causing the need for housing, a new court house, larger churches and improved schools. Many of these buildings are still standing in El Dorado, Smackover and Camden today, Beasley said.

“In addition to permanent buildings like these, temporary structures

like 112’ wooden derricks sprang up and decorated the landscape for as far as the eye could see. Those attending Tinker Time will examine these structures from long ago and recreate the scenery that was booming almost 100 years ago,” she said.

The program is free, but reservations are appreciated. Call 870725-288 to make your reservations.

The mission of the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources is to collect, preserve and interpret Arkansas’s natural resources with particular emphasis on petroleum and brine used for bromine extraction. Exhibits throughout the museum demonstrate the discovery and uses of petroleum and brine. Temporary exhibits change every six months and focus on various topics.

The museum is one of 52 Arkansas State Parks and museum hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 until 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free.