Hampson Archeological Museum State Park to Close Temporarily
New Facility to Open in Early Spring
(Little Rock, AR) 11/3/17
A brand new museum is in the works at Hampson Archeological Museum State Park in northeast Arkansas. The building has been completed and now the exhibits are being put into place. In order to complete the task in the timeliest fashion, the old and new facilities will be temporarily closed to the public. The new museum is expected to open to the public in spring of 2018.
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park in Wilson, Arkansas, exhibits a nationally renowned collection from the Nodena site. This was a 15-acre palisaded village that once thrived on the Mississippi River in what is today Mississippi County. Hampson Archeological Museum interprets the lifestyles of this farming-based civilization that lived there from A.D. 1400 to 1650. Artifacts and exhibits share the story of this early aboriginal population of farmers who cultivated crops and supplemented their food resources with hunting native game while developing its art, religion and political structure along with a thriving trading network.
This remarkable collection owes its preservation to the late Dr. James K. Hampson and his family.
The old museum was built more than 50 years ago and was 1,740 square feet. Over the years, the size of this building has proven to lack the capacity needed to adequately showcase the artifacts and exhibits. The new museum is 8,580 square feet (photo is attached.) This will more comfortably welcome guests to view the amazing collection of objects and interpretive exhibitions that shine a light on this ancient culture.
For more information, please call the Hampson Archeological Museum at (870) 655-8622.
Link to picture:
About Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas state parks and museums cover 54,400 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities and unique historic and cultural resources. The system includes 1,100 buildings (including 183 historic structures), six National Historic Landmarks, a National Natural Landmark and 16 sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
The state parks have 1,800 camp sites, 1,050 picnic sites, 208 cabins, five lodges, and 415 miles of trails. Eight million visitors annually come from all regions of the country. Park staffs provide over 42,000 education programs, activities and special events to more than 700,000 participants each year.
Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism, and provide leadership in resource conservation.