LITTLE ROCK EXPEDITION!

Last summer, I had the opportunity to travel from north Arkansas, to central Arkansas, with a group of friends.  After several hours of driving, we were happy to be able to get out and stretch our legs, to walk around T.R. Pugh Park, in North Little Rock.  The park is the location of "The Old Mill", seen in the background of group photo below.   The Old Mill is a backdrop not only for our group photo, but it was also seen in the opening credits of the 1939 movie, Gone With the Wind. 

The Old Mill is a replica of an abandoned water-powered grist mill that would have been used by Arkansas pioneers, in the 1800's.  Although the Old Mill never actually operated as a mill, the iron grist mill on the first floor of the building, is authentic and dates to 1828.  Developer Justin Matthews wanted the Old Mill to appear as the ruins of a bygone era.  The park is named after Matthews' business partner, Thomas R. Pugh, and Matthews stated the water wheel turning beside the mill,  symbolizes Pugh's tireless energy.  Matthews commissioned Dionicio Rodriguez, noted Mexican sculptor, to create the faux bois (or fake wood) style details, that accent this remarkable art piece. 

After a restful night of sleep, in a lovely home, situated on  grounds as carefully landscaped, as that of the Old Mill Park, our group headed out to visit the Clinton Library, in downtown Little Rock. 

One of the staff members of the Clinton Library, took our photo, before we went inside to tour the exhibits. 

One of the first things you will see when you enter the library is the Presidential limousine.

The photo below, taken from an upper floor of the library, shows people on lower floor, at various sections of the exhibits.  Each cubicle references a different year of the presidency of William Jefferson Clinton.  Since I am a fan of Dale Chihuly glass artistry, I seldom miss an opportunity to photograph it!  The Christmas tree-shaped art piece shown in this photo, was a gift to the Clintons.  There are numerous other "Head of State" gifts on display, each one representative of the culture of the dignitary (or common citizen!) that presented the gift. 

I have been to the Clinton Library on numerous other occasions (lots more photos in those blog entries, in the archives under the dates of October 27, 2008, and two separate articles dated March 8, 2012), but this was my first time to get to have a meal inside the private dining room of Restaurant 42.  To find out if your group could have a meal in the private dining room, visit their website at www.ClintonPresidentialCenter.org .  You will also see information of upcoming exhibits and other important visitor information. 

After lunch, we wanted to get some exercise, so we went to the adjacent Clinton Presidential Park, to take a stroll across the historic bridge above the Arkansas River.  The sign at its entrance tells us that in 1899, the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad (CO&G) built the Choctaw station and the railroad bridge over the Arkansas River at Little Rock.  In 1967, passenger service ended and the Choctaw Station and surrounding land was bought by the Arkansas Gazette newspaper. 

The photo below shows that the bridge is now wheel-chair accessible, which is also a benefit for  wheeled baby strollers and bicyclists.  The bridge ceased carrying railroad cars around 1980.  The railroad company that owned the bridge in 1995 was making plans to tear down the bridge due to the liability it represented.  However, in 2001, the City of Little Rock assumed ownership of the bridge and retains ownership today. 

In 20010 the City of Little Rock officially changed the name of the bridge to the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge as tribute to the Clinton Foundation's efforts to renovate it into a ramped pedestrian pathway providing the eastern link to the Arkansas River Trail System. 

In 2011, the renovated pedestrian bridge was dedicated by President Bill Clinton Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea Clinton, and officially opened to the public.  (I took this photo so I could point out the area along the riverfront,  to my friends, where my husband had asked me to marry him, back in the last century!  The photo below of Fred and me, beside the Arkansas River, was taken on that memorable day we got engaged!)

Notice in the photo below, how the Clinton Presidential Library (to left of railroad bridge) extends far out over the slope, that leads down to the riverfront, in a way similar to how a bridge would be built. In fact, that was part of the design concept, as the architect wanted to illustrate how learning from the past, can be a "bridge" to a better future. 

Another stop we made on our tour was the Central High School National Historic Site (www.nps.gov.chsc).  The photo below shows me and two friends, posing under the arches beneath the steps.  Although the public was not allowed inside the school on the day of this visit, a previous visit I made there several years ago, allowed the tour group to go inside and take in the "ambience" of being in a very well-used school building.  There is an excellent visitor center at the site, that gives a detailed timeline of the events that led up to the 1957 integration of the previously all-white school, by the "Little Rock Nine".  There are both audio and video accounts in the Visitor Center (a separate building from the school) that are told by the people who were actually there at the time.  Not surprisingly, this is a significant stop on the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail.   It is worth noting, that our current governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, graduated from Central High School.

Another historic site we visited was the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History (www.littlerock.gov).  This facility is located in the historic Arsenal Building in MacArthur Park--one of Central Arkansas's oldest surviving structures.  It was the birthplace of a famous USA military hero---General Douglas MacArthur.  In addition to details of his service, there are artifacts that relate to the military heritage of Arkansas, from the time it was a territory, up to present-day. 

It is always a treat to be able to visit our beautiful Arkansas State Capitol.  Most photos you see of the exterior show it from the front, but I took this photo, from the side, because our group was strolling the grounds, to see the memorials located there.  This is the location of the iconic sculpture (shown in center of photo) of "The Little Rock Nine", and is the starting point of the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail.

There are several sets of ornate bronze  doors at the capitol, and I wanted to get my photo with some of them, because it was my grandson, who first alerted me to their significance!  On a separate trip to Little Rock, when he was still in elementary school, he was insistent on going to see, and get his photo taken, with the Capitol's bronze doors, that he had learned about in one of his Arkansas history classes.  So Jacob, this photo is for you!

Below is the photo of Jacob when he was a youngster, along with me and his sister.  That smile on his face is because he had convinced his parents to take him by the Arkansas State Capitol, so he could see these famous doors, purchased from Tiffany and Company in New York!

The grand foyer of the Capitol, under the rotunda, is illuminated by this amazing chandelier.  There is a fascinating story about its history that you can learn, if you take the video tour offered by the Arkansas Secretary of State on their website.  It is also the website you need to visit to find out about tour times, and parking access, if you make the trip in person.  It is  www.sos.arkansas.gov ; also you can phone 501-682-5080.

One of the reasons our group chose this particular time to visit the State Capitol, is because they were showcasing a special exhibition to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the nation's first national river, now called Buffalo National River.  In the photo below, the ladies are admiring the amazing textile artistry of an artist who created a "painting" of one of the iconic Buffalo National River bluffs, using fabric applique and embroidery. 

We were able to go into this expansive room with the name "Governor" above the door, to see the recent renovations that had been completed there to bring it back to its original grandeur. 

A tourist can also make arrangement to visit the office of the Arkansas State Treasurer, and get your photo made, holding half a million dollars!

I did not look close enough to see if it was real money on the inside, hidden parts of the stack, but it certainly made for some fun photo opportunities. 

When I was looking for a photo to serve as a visual aid, to help me learn one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com)  memory verses (about how Jesus gave up his riches in heaven, to come to earth as a tiny baby, in order to one day die on the cross, taking the penalty for my sins), these large stacks of money came to mind.  Jesus gave up much more than all the money in the Arkansas State Treasury, and He did it for you and me!  2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."  These are the ETERNAL riches that give me "MILES OF SMILES!"  Tricia