New Exhibits
What is a semi quincentennial?
On April 17, 1783, Arkansas Post was attacked by British irregulars and Chickasaw led by Captain James Colbert. The Colbert Raid was the only battle fought in present-day Arkansas during the American Revolution and was the last land-based engagement of the conflict.
On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In commemoration of this national milestone, the Old Independence Regional Museum is opening a brand-new exhibit entitled “Echoes of Time.”
Travel back in time to Batesville’s celebration of the American Bicentennial in 1976. Learn about Jim Bechdoldt’s journey along the Bicentennial Wagon Train, which traveled from the West Coast to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Discover the symbols that represent our nation, from Lady Liberty to Uncle Sam. Visitors are also invited to reflect on what it means to be an American and what our role is in the nation’s ongoing democratic experiment.
Independence County, founded in 1820 and named in honor of the Declaration of Independence, offers visitors a chance to reflect on our region’s place in the history of the United States. Explore the communities and landmarks across our twelve-county region that are named after veterans of conflicts ranging from the Revolutionary War to World War II. The exhibit also provides an opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of veterans past and present.
A Taste of Community
Old Independence Regional Museum was chosen by the Smithsonian Institution as one of six small museums in the United States to showcase its Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit pertaining to food. We have entitled this exhibit “A Taste of Community”; it brings together the Smithsonian’s outstanding pictures and verbiage along with our local stories and pictures from across Arkansas. This outstanding exhibit will be open to the public until July 2025.
Outdoor Learning Garden
Join us as we dig in with native flowers and plants, fruits and vegetables, and a large area showcasing the six geographic regions of Arkansas. This exhibit has broken ground and will grow throughout 2025. You can be a part of it! Two Saturdays a month we will offer classes on how to plant fruit trees, cultivate berry plants, care for tomatoes, and more. Classes will be free and open to the public. See our calendar for dates and times (scroll down the homepage to the calendar).
Earth Station on Main Street donated a forest of fruit trees to OIRM! We have most of the trees planted between the parking lot and the museum while the others will hit the ground once the asphalt is cleared away.
With the addition of a donated sorghum mill and railway cart, our new raised beds are coming together nicely. Our new garden shed will soon be outfitted to resemble a 1930s home. We have been constructing and filling raised beds for months and finally planted seeds last month. Look for sorghum, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and berries!
We relocated the Madam Queen’s bell and whistle to the atrium, giving these beautiful objects a showcase setting.
A Work in Progress
In an effort to update our displays, OIRM is creating a grand exhibit on clamming, pearling, button punching, and fishing. Once we have all our archives placed correctly, we will begin transforming the remaining area in the room to reflect our area’s past industries, including movie theaters, barbershops, and other businesses integral to our past.