CURRENT EXHIBITS

PERMANENT GALLERIES

Five galleries that survey the history of Rogers from pre-history to today.

  • Natural State explores the geography of Northwest Arkansas, how this natural landscape attracted early settlers, and then went on to shape our area's economy.
  • Road and Rail takes a look at the early days of urbanization of Northwest Arkansas and the establishment of Rogers in 1881 with the coming of the railroad.
  • America's Heartland features life in Rogers during the first half of the twentieth century, including some of the people, businesses, and organizations that made their home here.
  • White River examines life along the White River, including the rural communities that made their home on the river, William “Coin” Harvey and his Monte Ne resort town, and how the building of Beaver Dam and the creation of Beaver Lake impacted the landscape, growth, and economy of Northwest Arkansas.
  • Our Place features highlights of Rogers’ more recent past through objects and newspaper clippings from the 1960s to early 2000s. 

HAWKINS HOUSE

Step back in time on a guided tour through the Hawkins House and learn about middle class family life in early 20th century Rogers. Built in 1895, this 1,000 square-foot restored brick house is complete with period furnishings from the museum’s collection that are displayed so that it seems the Hawkins family still lives there.​

Museum Tours are provided upon request, Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.​ Museum visitors may inquire about the Hawkins House guided tour at the Hailey Building visitor services desk or at the Key Wing Education Center entrance. 

FIRST STREET DISPLAY

Take a stroll along this small street scene in the Key Wing Education Center classroom that replicates several businesses–​a dry goods store, barbershop and a bank–​that once lined First Street in Rogers.

THE CABOOSE

Located in Downtown Rogers at the corner of First and Cherry Streets in the Butterfly Park, this retired caboose from the Frisco railroad was gifted to the City of Rogers in 1981 in celebration of the city's centennial anniversary.

​Visit the caboose to experience a part of Rogers' railroad history for yourself. Visitors are welcome to climb the steps and turn the brake wheel, but the interior of the caboose is currently closed for maintenance.
​A PARADE OF APPLE BLOSSOMS​
April 15 - October 28
​The Apple Blossom Festivals of the 1920s in Rogers were a grand celebration of the apple industry in Northwest Arkansas. They were also a chance to showcase the beauty of Arkansas in springtime, and the prosperity and economic progress of a growing region. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Apple Blossom Festival in 1923, A Parade of Apple Blossoms takes you through the elaborate costumes, contests, tours, and more that turned Rogers and the surrounding area into an apple blossom pilgrimage each spring.

The exhibit showcases a number of exciting features such as, original costumes from the Apple Blossom Festival and other festival related objects from the museum’s collection, a selection of photos of the elaborately decorated parade floats, a recreation of a downtown Rogers window display from 1925, a reproduction of the Apple Blossom Queen’s throne where visitors can sit and take their picture, and music from the Apple Blossom Festivals recorded by Arkansas Arts Academy students.
TOYS WELL PLAYED
July 22 - January 13
Remember the joy of childhood play? Come see this exhibit featuring toys from the museum’s collection dating from the 1890s to the early 2000s. Discover how American toys often reflect our culture by teaching life skills through play. Learn how the manufacture of toys shifted in the twentieth century from being primarily homemade to largely commercialized. ​

FOR CHILDREN

Get your hands on history! The museum offers two hands-on spaces, The Attic and Children's Gallery, where children of all ages can play and explore objects from the past.

​**Adult supervision is required at all times in both play areas. **

THE ATTIC

Located in the Key Wing Education Center, The Attic is dedicated to educating through touch by allowing children to dress up, 'cook' on a vintage stove, use a vintage typewriter, and discover many more objects from the early 20th century.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some of the vintage objects found in The Attic are timeworn and/or have fragile, small parts which make them susceptible to breaking. Even with careful handling, we understand that this is what happens when objects are used and enjoyed over and over again. Please let a museum staff member or volunteer know about any broken objects so they may be repaired or replaced.

CHILDREN'S GALLERY

The Children’s Gallery is a fun place where kids can play and explore historic Rogers landmarks. This space can be found in the Hailey Building exhibit galleries and includes a slide reminiscent of the old Rogers High School fire escape slide, a fully-stocked mid-century kitchen, a workshop filled with tools and wood-working projects, a "Harris Baking Company" bakery, and a cozy reading nook.


COMMUNIT​Y EXHIBITS

The Museum displays small exhibits at locations across Northwest Arkansas. Listed below are the exhibit names, locations and times when you can view each exhibit.
EARLY POULTRY INDUSTRY OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Location: Adult Wellness Center (The Adult Wellness Center is open to members only)
Address: 2001 West Persimmon, Rogers AR
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


ROGERS FIRE DEPARTMENT
Location: Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary's
Address: 1200 West Walnut, Rogers AR
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.


FROM MURALS TO PENCILS: ADVERTISING IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Location: Rogers Public Library
Address: 711 S. Dixieland Road, Rogers AR
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. & Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

​
LAND OF THE BIG RED APPLE
Location: Rogers Executive Airport
Address: Hwy 62 East, Airport Drive # 3

ONLINE EXHIBITS

Beaver Lake: Before and After
​
The Bentonville School History 1841 - 1921

Buried Dreams: "Coin" Harvey & Monte Ne

Discovering the Bluff Dwellers

Early Poultry Industry of Northwest Arkansas

Elsie Mistie Sterling

From Overland Stage to Postal Truck: A History of the Mail Service in Rogers, Arkansas

Influential Women of Arkansas: From the Suffragettes to Today

Health Care in Benton County

Kruse's Gold Mine

Ladies of the Loom

​Living History Videos

Natural Resources of Northwest Arkansas

On Fields Far Away: Our Community During the Great War

Parades & Pageants: The Apple Blossom Festivals of the 1920s

Personal Computers: From the Early 1970s to the Late 1980s 

Rally Around the Flag: The Flags of the Battle of Pea Ridge
​
Rebels, Federals and Bushwhackers

Reflections of the Black Experience

Remembering Rogers
​

LET'S STAY IN TOUCH