Photo: The Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center is expanding along lower Main Street and combining the art, history and science museums under one roof. This three-year expansion plan will increase the size of the museums and grow the number of small businesses on Main Street.
The Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center has run out of room. The closets are full of paintings, historical artifacts and genealogy resources and there is no place to display them. When the opportunity arose to purchase two historic buildings joining the Tomlinson Art & Science Center, the board welcomed the opportunity.
The plan is to restore and preserve the buildings, then join them so the museums can be united under one roof.
Gloria Sanders, museum executive director, says, “Having our art, history and science together in one building with a well-developed plan for guest traffic flow, and designing an interactive, immersive experience is really exciting for us.”
The community won’t lose any of the existing businesses on Main Street with the plan. The current museum building will be transformed into The Marketplace, a space that will give anyone with an idea an opportunity to start a small business with very little investment or risk. Merchandise will be owned by the individual who will be paid on consignment when it sells.
The foundation purchased the historic Cheney’s Department Store Building from Craig Deragon in August. Donors have already helped reduce the loan the foundation obtained to buy the building. As funds become available, work will begin in this building first.
The foundation will purchase the Wagon Wheel Antiques building and business later this year. The inventory will be incorporated into The Marketplace. Kim Meierdirk is helping the museum get The Marketplace started. She and her husband, Roy, will continue to be involved with The Marketplace as consigners.
Kim Meierdirk says, “We were at a place where it made sense for us and the museum was out of space. This is a win for everybody. We whole-heartedly believe this is a great move for the community.”
The Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center will have improved access to visitors on lower Main Street, the art and history spaces will more than double and the area for the Artisan Gift Shop and Visitor Center will increase by 60 percent.
Calico Rock Mayor Greg Hamby, a member of the foundation board, says, “This is a real opportunity for our community. It increases the size of our museum and the opportunities for the museum. It increases the number of small businesses and retail shops on Main Street, it’s good for our visitors, and will spur growth in our other businesses, too.”
In addition to expanding the museum facility, the foundation board is branching out. The board has begun a regional search for candidates for a position on the board that became open with the passing of trustee Rhoda Doerr earlier this summer.
Trustee Freda Hardison says, “We are looking for someone that has an interest in Calico Rock and continuing to grow our museum. They may reside in the immediate area, or they may live within the region.”
To learn more about the museum expansion project or to nominate someone (including yourself) for the vacant board position, call 870-297-6100 or visit the museum’s website Calico Rock Museum.
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