Updated: 7/16/2014 
Rogers Historical Museum
Rogers, Arkansas
Description

Real objects from our past. True stories about our community and its people. Family fun and life-long learning. That's what people of all ages discover at the Rogers Historical Museum.

The museum serves Rogers and all of Northwest Arkansas, a rapidly growing metropolitan area that shares a rich natural and cultural heritage, a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, and an increasingly diverse population. The museum's mission is to enrich lives through education, experience, and exploration of our heritage.

The museum collects and preserves artifacts, archival materials, and research materials which document the history and cultural heritage of Rogers and Benton County. Exhibitions, programs, publications, and web-based resources foster an appreciation of our region's heritage. Family-friendly exhibitions and programs allow people of all ages to engage the past, imagine the future, and find joy in learning, while loan exhibitions and related programs broaden the cultural horizons of area residents and help place our region's natural and cultural heritage in a broader context.

The museum is planning for a major expansion that will position the Rogers Historical Museum as the premier history museum in Northwest Arkansas, with collection facilities, exhibitions, and programs on a par with those of history museums in even larger metropolitan areas. But as the museum grows it will remain an accessible, inclusive, family-friendly institution, responsive to the changing needs of the community and the varied interests of patrons.

History

The museum was founded in 1975 as the City of Rogers' Bicentennial project. In 1980 the museum moved from its original location to the 1895 Hawkins House. Much of the collection was placed in storage while funds were raised for a building expansion connected to the historic house, which was completed in 1987. In 1995 the museum expanded into the former public library across the street; that building is used for education offices and programs and for collections storage. Over the years the museum has received many awards for its exhibits and programming. But the most meaningful recognition of all was its accreditation by the American Association of Museums in 1999. Subsequent accreditation was granted in 2010. The museum is currently planning for a major expansion project.

Artifact Collections

The museum's collections include about 40,000 items. Major holdings include: photographs and archival material; household items; quilts, clothing, and other textiles; tools; and items relating to local businesses.

Research Collections

The Museum has a small research library with vertical files, books on local history and family history, census and cemetery records, maps, periodicals, and copies of images from the Museum's collection.

Programs

The museum offers in-house and outreach school programs and has a variety of discovery boxes and other loan materials available to teachers and homeschool parents free of charge. For the general public the museum offers adult programs and family days free of charge, as well as step-on guide services for tour groups for a modest fee.

Governance

A department of the City of Rogers, governed by the Museum Commission

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: False

Services
Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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