The Arkansas State Archives has a new traveling exhibit called “Territorial Arkansas: The Wild Western Frontier.”  The exhibit explores the history of Arkansas Territory through the collections of the Arkansas State Archives.  Established in 1819, Arkansas Territory was a wild frontier on the western edge of the United States, where politicians settled debates by deadly duels.  The sparsely populated land saw an influx of settlers arriving over land and rivers to establish small communities and isolated homesteads, developed territorial and county governments, farm the land, and start new businesses.  Initially Arkansas Territory included what is now Oklahoma, but through changes in boundary lines and the relocation of Native Americans further and further west, the territory’s land was reduced to its present size in 1828.  After 17 years as a territory, Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th state on June 15, 1836.

This traveling exhibit consists of 15 banners stands.  The extended banner stands on display are each 38"W x 86"H x 8.6"D.  Each banner pulls out of a stand on the floor like a window shade and stays extended with a metal pole which latches to the top and base.  Since each banner stands alone, the exhibit panels can be arranged in many configurations, whether linearly, at angles, back to back, or in triangular or square groupings.

The exhibit is available to museums, libraries, archives, universities, schools, historical societies and other educational or cultural institutions around the state at no cost.  The collapsed banner stands in cases must be picked up and dropped off at the Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock.  The exhibit is available starting in March 2019 and can be booked for a period of 1 week up to 4 weeks.   

To book this exhibit for your organization or more information, please contact Julienne Crawford, Curator at the Arkansas State Archives, at julienne.crawford@arkansas.gov or 501-682-6978.