Arkansas Group Travel - Arkansas Tours
TOUR 5: CELEBRATING THE POWER OF COURAGE
2024-07-17 07:02:42
Follow the path of some of Arkansas’ most iconic civil rights figures and view locations important to human rights struggles.
Duration: Four days
Available: Year-round
Places Explored: Rohwer, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Bentonville
Itinerary Ideal: For all ages
DAY 1
Often overlooked in our nation’s history, over 120,000 Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. The Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center was one of these sites from 1941-45. This site is now a National Historic Landmark.
Before you head to the site, make sure to stop by the WWII Japanese American Internment Museum in nearby McGehee. This will provide valuable historical context for the site visit and make your experience much more compelling.
More than 8,000 Japanese Americans from California, mostly U.S. citizens, were interned here through WWII by the War Relocation Authority. Today, the barracks and government buildings are gone. Remnants at the site include a cemetery highlighted by several memorial monuments, along with the hospital smokestack. Interpretive markers telling the story of the camp have been placed along the road bordering the cemetery, with an audio narrative by actor George Takei of Star Trek fame, who was interned at Rohwer as a child.
After a morning touring Rohwer, a short drive back to McGehee brings you to Hoots BBQ, one of the Delta’s most beloved restaurants. Enjoy lunch before your drive to Little Rock.
Arrive in the state capital of Little Rock. Here you can walk in the steps of a president at the William J. Clinton Library and Museum. View an exact replica of Bill Clinton’s Oval Office and Cabinet Room, photographs, videos, documents and interactive timeline highlighting domestic and foreign policies as well as the Clintons’ lives in the White House.
Finish the day with dinner at one of downtown Little Rock’s group-friendly restaurants.
DAY 2
Tour another important historic landmark at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, listed on the official U.S. Civil Rights Trail as a significant site to see in the South. The only high school functioning within the boundaries of a national historic site, the school and museum are a testament to the nine African American students who integrated into the all-white school as a test of the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
After viewing the school, drive by “The Testament” sculpture on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol to see a rendering of the Little Rock Nine on their first day at Central High.
After learning about desegregation in Little Rock, visit Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a museum that tells the story of Little Rock’s Ninth Street, a thriving business and cultural center for the African American community during the segregation era. Learn how Black entrepreneurs and legislators impacted the state and experience first-hand accounts of life in the segregated South from the people who lived it. The museum is also home to the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
Learn more about the brave men and women who fought for integration by following the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail. The trail highlights sites and individuals who played an integral part in Little Rock’s Civil Rights movement and is continually growing, with new markers being added annually. The Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail app is available online for portable electronic devices.
Enjoy a true Southern meal at Lassis Inn or Sim’s Bar-B-Que, both Blackowned restaurants that provided a safe haven and meeting spot for Civil Rights leaders in Arkansas during the 1950s and 60s. The iconic and award-winning restaurants have been serving patrons for generations and continue to offer superb regional dishes.
DAY 3
Head to Fort Smith and learn about the importance of the U.S. Marshals, the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. The city served as a vital base for marshals and deputy marshals as they hunted fugitives in the nearby Oklahoma Territory throughout the 19th century.
In a stunning star-shaped facility modeled after the federal law enforcers’ iconic badge, the U.S. Marshals Museum honors the place where more Marshals rode out to give their lives in service during the frontier era than in any other place and time in history. Explore five immersive galleries that tell their story from their founding in 1789 to modern times. Highlights include “The Campfire,” where statuesque Marshal figures from four different centuries share stories about their careers, and the interactive Marshals Challenge, which presents scenarios and decisions and lets visitors know if they made the right choice.
After the museum, visit the statue of Bass Reeves. This unsung hero lawman was the first African American Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. He arrested over 3,000 outlaws in his 32-year career. This 25-foot tall monument was erected in Fort Smith, where Reeves brought criminals to stand trial before the legendary Judge Isaac Parker.
Enjoy dinner at Taliano’s Italian Restaurant, housed in the 1887 James Sparks Home, a Romanesque mansion featuring handcarved fireplaces and original chandeliers.
DAY 4
Arrive in Bentonville and explore the Museum of Native American History. Take a journey across 24,000 years and learn more about the first people who called the Americas home. Through artifacts and original works of art, MONAH takes visitors through five time periods, giving an unparalleled opportunity to explore the development of these Indigenous cultures. The museum also hosts the annual Native American Cultural Celebration.
Have lunch in Eleven at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and be sure to check out the amazing exhibits in this museum founded by Alice Walton. Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection spans five centuries of American masterworks ranging from the Colonial era to current day. Beautiful outdoor art and even a restored Frank Lloyd Wright house can be found on the museum grounds, as well as more than four miles of beautifully maintained trails.
End your day exploring the stunning beauty of Compton Gardens and Arboretum. Part of the Peel Compton Foundation, visitors can walk or bike through six acres of beautiful landscapes dotted with Champion trees and native flora. There’s a good chance you’ll spot some of the wildlife that call the gardens home.
Enjoy a wonderful dinner at Bentonville’s oldest restaurant and favorite dinner spot of Sam Walton, Table at the Hickory Inn. Famous for steak and ribs, there is no better way to finish up a visit to this Northwest Arkansas gem.
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