The Calico Rock Museum Foundation has taken steps to expand the space available to the museum. The board of trustees voted to acquire the historic Floyd’s Grocery building, formerly Don Quixote’s restaurant, on Main Street.
According to a release from the foundation, the building will be restored and renovated to include a stand-alone art museum and a new science museum. Artifacts relegated to the archives due to the lack of space will be moved to the new exhibit space, and present history museum will be expanded by nearly 33 percent.
The museum is looking to dedicate galleries to local, regional and well-known Arkansas artists, and the science exhibits will feature hands-on displays with topics including the geology of the area, how the river formed land features and the ecology and wildlife of the area.
The acquisition was made possible by a donation from Ben and Gloria Sanders in memory of Gloria’s son Tom Tomlinson. The purchase is being made through a “bargain sale agreement” authorized under Internal Revenue Service regulations allowing individuals to make large property donations to non-profit organizations through sales below fair market value. The foundation has started a $60,000 capital campaign to complete the purchase and expansion. Funds will be raised from private individuals, corporations and grants, and a loan is also being obtained from First National Bank of Izard County in Calico Rock.
The Calico Rock Museum has been invited to join the Arkansas Discovery Network, and the foundation intends to accept the invitation once the expansion is complete. The Arkansas Discovery Network includes museums teaching art and science in interactive ways, and they feature tinkering studios to teach students how to build and take apart in learning.
For more information or to make a donation, go online to calicorockmuseum.com or call 870-297-6100.
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