Exterior of Rogers Historical Museum. Funding from the NEH helped Rogers Historical Museum revitalize and re-purpose existing buildings and add to the life of the city’s downtown. Image courtesy of the museum.
Established in 1975 by the City of Rogers, Arkansas, the Rogers Historical Museum preserves local history and heritage and provides a communal space and educational opportunities for the community. Situated less than 10 miles from Walmart’s headquarters, Rogers, Arkansas has seen significant population growth since the museum’s founding, but the museum has struggled to meet the needs of its increasing population. With a $500,000 NEH Challenge grant, which helped the organization raise an additional $1.5 million, the museum was able to expand its facilities, enabling it to attract a broader audience and cater to the community’s needs.
“Getting that grant was one of the most exciting things that we’ve ever experienced. It really is a seal of approval to potential donors and other granting agencies […] that you’re moving in the right direction, that you’ve got a solid plan, and a way to evaluate that plan. It paved the way to our expansion.”
–Terrilyn Wendling, Assistant Director/Curator of Collections
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Rogers Historical Museum used existing structures in the downtown area, further extending their fundraising and generating further buy-in from community members who were glad to see buildings be repurposed. Image courtesy of the museum.
While planning for the expansion, the museum worked with the City of Rogers to use existing buildings. A previous newspaper office and a county office building were repurposed to become the museum’s expansion space, generating excitement and further buy-in from community members who were glad to see buildings that would otherwise sit vacant be repurposed. The museum now has more space to tell the story of the area and its connection and significance to the outside world while exploring the city’s unique characteristics.
Rogers Historical Museum greatly expanded their capacity to host permanent and traveling exhibitions. Image courtesy of the museum.
Increased space allows museum staff to continually “offer something for everyone,” according to Terrilyn Wendling, assistant director and curator of collections. The museum has expanded its permanent collection, which focused on the time before World War II, to include more recent items. The permanent exhibitions are enhanced by traveling exhibitions that the museum did not previously have the space to host. These attract new visitors to the museum. In addition, the museum hosts concerts, family days, and a local history club that invites citizens to tell their stories about growing up in Rogers. Local schools that were previously reluctant to bring students are now doing so as the museum has the capacity to host an entire grade at one time rather than only individual classes. Civic and community groups are also invited to use the space for their meetings. Altogether, an expanded Rogers Historical Museum serves as an important communal space to preserve, tell, and support the story of Rogers.
