Calico Rock Museum thriving despite rocky start

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A few years ago, the idea of a museum in Calico Rock was a foreign concept, let alone two museums that today make up the Calico Rock Museum System. It began with an idea to try to save crumbling buildings along the town’s historic Main Street. Community leaders and business owners were worried the town might not have any businesses left along the main road to bring people into town. If that happened, it could have dire consequences on the rest of the community.

Despite the warning from the experts, the Calico Rock Heritage & Visitor Center opened in the back room of the city’s Visitor Information Center in 2008. Two years later interest had grown, and the owner of the adjoining building offered to sell it to the museum foundation. With no money in the bank and no resources, the foundation took the leap of faith to buy it.

Fast forward another eight years. The Calico Rock Heritage & Visitor Center welcomed over 24,000 visitors to town last year. At one time, the main function of the town’s visitor center was a public bathroom. While that’s still important for a weary traveler, today those visitors are spending time and money. The museum has welcomed visitors from Australia, England, and Japan.

The Calico Rock Museums are open Monday through Saturday. Those wishing to tour the museums can do so 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year from anywhere in the world by visiting www.calicorock.oncell.com <http://www.calicorock.oncell.com>. For more information on the Calico Rock Museums, call 870-297-6100.

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