Hindman Hall Museum Open To Visitors At No Cost

PRAIRIE GROVE — Hindman Hall Museum will be free to visitors throughout 2012.

The museum, through the use of film, new interactive exhibitions and art, tells the story of the Civil War Battle of Prairie Grove. The battle was fought in December 1862.

The museum can be found at the back of Hindman Hall beyond the Visitor Center, according to Holly Houser, historical park interpreter.

The front part of the visitor center has been free to the public with an admission fee for the museum. In order for more people to enjoy the museum and the park’s history, the museum will be free throughout the year, according to Houser.

“We welcome and encourage everyone who has not had a chance to see the remodeled Hindman Hall Museum and Visitor Center with interactive exhibits and park videos to come out in 2012,” Houser said. “Come enjoy complimentary admission to the museum from Arkansas State Parks.”

The Hall was closed for several months in 2011 as renovations were being done. It reopened with updated museum exhibits in June. The $778,441 funding for the renovations was provided by the Arkansas Natural And Cultural Resources Council.

Houser said the park will commemorate 150 years since the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 2012.

“As we remember what happened, think of the sunset, the rattle of musketry and the boom of cannons at the end of the day,” Houser said.

“Using memories of the battle by [Civil War] veterans and the United Daughters of the Confeder- acy can help protect those views by preserving places at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park,” Houser said.

The Confederate Army of the Trans-mississippi and the Union Army of the Frontier suffered about 2,700 casualties during the oneday battle. The Civil War ended in 1865.

“The landscape was changed forever along with our county — this wooded ridge overlooking the prairie and the Illinois River stands as a memory of what happened here,” she said. “Many things have changed since 1862 but the memo-

ries have not faded. After the war, people moved into the area and established the town of Prairie Grove in 1888.”

With the museum free, Houser said the park is asking for donations since the only fees now are for historic house tours, school and bus tours and facilities rental.

Historic House Tours are available at 9:30 a. m., 1: 30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. and cost $5 plus tax for adults and $3 plus tax for children 6 to 12. A family rate is $15 plus tax.

School groups, with advance notice, cost $3 per student and adult group rates, 15 or more with advance notice, is 50 cents off, so it would cost $4.75 plus tax, according to Houser.

Facility rental fees are by location; call the park anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for availability.

Latta Barn is by the hour, the other buildings and pavilions are by use rate or an all-day fee.

Free battlefield tours are available at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Hindman Hall Museum and Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park ground, picnic area and restrooms are open daily at 8 a.m. and close one hour after sunset.

For more information or in case of bad weather, contact the park: Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, 506 E. Douglas Street, Prairie Grove, AR 72753.

For more information, call 479- 846-2990, email prairiegrove@arkansas.com or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/prairiegrovebattlefield.