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Discovery Mid-America August 2009
Ozark museum celebrates pioneers
When historians and researchers want photographs and information about Ozarks settlers, they turn to a museum in Springdale, Arkansas. The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, located in the town’s original square, is a tremendous source of photographic records.
I first learned about the museum during a re-screening of Water and Fire, a documentary of the Ozarks on Kansas City’s public TV station, KCPT. Narrated by Charles Gusewelle and produced by Randy Mason and Mike Murphy, the production first aired in 2004 and included many haunting and fascinating views of Ozark settlers. In addition to the stunning contemporary photography by Randy Burkhardt, there were photos dating as far back as Civil War days, documenting the struggles of Ozark people with the wilderness, poverty, prejudice and nature itself.
When the credits rolled, they listed the Shiloh Museum as a source for many of the amazing photographs.
Unidentified girl in Northwest Arkansas with a doll, ca. 1910
(J. D. Johnson Collection/
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History)
It turns out the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History contains more than 700,000 photographs of Ozark life — the largest photo archive in the state. Public TV productions are among many entities that make use of these historical treasures.
The museum began in 1965 when the city of Springdale purchased a large number of Native American artifacts collected over more than 60 years by a local man. Included were some 10,000 prehistoric and historic artifacts, and 250 books and pamphlets on anthropology and archaeology. Over the next few months, the University of Arkansas Museum staff, assisted by a small army of volunteers, identified, classified and cataloged the objects.
Next, the city hired a part-time archaeologist, appointed a board of trustees, and opened the museum to the public in 1968. Shiloh was the name of the original settlement. It had been renamed Springdale in 1872 when the Post Office refused to honor the town’s Shiloh application because there was already another Arkansas town by that name.
A full-time director was hired in 1980, and federal grants soon followed. Later, the city acquired a city block of two acres, including the town’s original historic square.
During the ‘80s, several historic buildings were moved onto the property: an 1850s log cabin, a general store and doctor’s office from the 1870s, and an outhouse and barn from the 1930s. Already on the property was an 1870’s home, which had been remodeled in 1938.
In 1993, the museum acquired “Vanishing Northwest Arkansas,” a photo collection containing 100,000 images. The photo project earned an award of merit from the American Association of State and Local History.
Over the years, the museum has acquired collections from several donors. The gifts have ranged from household items, tools and books, to the original log walls of an 1830 house, along with original furnishings.
Shiloh Museum Director Allyn Lord gave me my tour. She’s a fellow Missouri grad with a degree in archaeology. Shiloh is her third museum, all in northwest Arkansas. “I live in Fayetteville,” she said, “and fortunately I didn’t have to move.”
Allyn pointed out the professional-looking exhibits, some with hands-on panels that opened to reveal objects. Others included historical photos and paintings. The log walls of the 1830 home were in one area, and included a dining table with period place-settings, all from the original home.
The museum’s current exhibit, “Squeaky Clean,” depicts the history of hygiene in the Ozarks. Old-time washing machines, laundry soaps and early day cleaning implements were shown, plus audio players that featured descriptions of long-ago washdays and radio ads for soaps and toothpaste.
“We have at least four different exhibits a year,” Allyn said. “It’s a lot of work, but no one wants to visit a museum that has the same exhibits on display every month.” The hygiene exhibit continues through Jan. 16, 2010.
One museum room featured a large exhibit with photographs of old and unique Ozarks bridges. That exhibit runs through Aug. 8.
Outside, she showed me the historic buildings on the museum grounds. School groups use the buildings to learn how pioneers made the most of local food and fiber. Workmen were putting new wood shingles on the general store.
“Composition shingles would have been easier,” Allyn said. “But we wanted authenticity.”
A winter storm had toppled tree limbs, leaving several trees badly injured. “Fortunately, there was no major damage to buildings,” Allyn added. “The log cabin took a hit, but it only lost a few shingles.”
August events at Shiloh Museum include “Tools and Gadgets,” a Summer Saturday family program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 8; “Prized Possessions,” a photo exhibit featuring people with their favorite things, Aug. 11 through Dec. 19; and a program on historic military saddles by saddle maker Doug Kidd at noon Aug. 19.
The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is located at 118 W. Johnson Ave. in Springdale. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. For details, visit www.springdalear.gov/shiloh or call 479-750-8165.
Ken Weyand can be contacted at kweyand1@kc.rr.com.
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