Exhibits

February 9 - March 6
Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy

When the Declaration of Independence was issued in 1776, the assertion that “all men are created equal” was a radical and transformative idea. With this seminal document, the Founding Fathers set in motion forces that would reshape political thought around the globe.

This exhibition uses primary source documents to explore how the U.S. Declaration of Independence inspired movements for equality and self-determination both in America and internationally. Visitors will see how nations around the world have modeled their own declarations of independence on the ideals first articulated in 1776.

Declaration 1776 Exhibit Feedback Form

March 2 - April 2
Arkansas / Arkansaw: A State and Its Reputation

This exhibit explores the long-standing and often contradictory images associated with Arkansas and its people. Drawing from historical sources, Arkansas / Arkansaw: A State and Its Reputation examines how Arkansans have been portrayed as both uncivilized backwoodsmen and noble frontiersmen—independent, honest, and self-reliant.

Perhaps best symbolized by the story of the Arkansas Traveler, the exhibit reveals how these dual images developed and why Arkansas became a focal point for the “hillbilly” stereotype. It also examines how Arkansans have responded—sometimes defensively, sometimes humorously—to these depictions.

Curated by historian Brooks Blevins, the exhibit presents neither a defense nor a dismissal of these portrayals, but instead invites visitors to consider both the real and romanticized versions of Arkansas’s reputation and how those images continue to influence perceptions today.

Watch the Old State House Museum’s video Arkansas/Arkansaw: A State and Its Reputation on YouTube to explore how Arkansas’s image has evolved over time.

Arkansas Arkansaw Exhibit Feedback Form

April 6 - April 30

“We the People”: Constitutions of the State of Arkansas

This exhibit explores the history of each Arkansas state constitution and provides insight into our current, much-amended constitution. Constitutions, federal and state alike, establish fundamental principles that prescribe the nature, functions, and limits of government. Arkansas has embraced five constitutions since 1836. Each coincided with a change in the state’s political status: statehood in 1836, joining the Confederate States of America during the Civil War in 1861, returning to the Union near the end of the Civil War in 1864, Reconstruction in 1868, and reaction to Reconstruction in 1874. The 1874 document, amended over 100 times, remains the foundation of the Arkansas code. This exhibit debuted in 2024 for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution. This exhibit consists of 7 banner stands and a reproduction of the 1874 Arkansas Constitution on a stand.