Little Rock, Arkansas

We drove from Memphis, Tennessee to Little Rock, Arkansas and this time we camped at a COE (Army Core of Engineers) Park called Maumelle which is right along the Arkansas River.  The campground was huge and there was nice spacing between sites.

As we were checking in, the lady at the entrance station was inside a booth and would talk to us through a speaker.  I hope it was just for Covid.  Anyway, everything she said she finished by saying, "oh-k-eye" (instead of okay).  It was so annoying!

  

Arkansas River

The next day we drove to downtown Little Rock to explore. 

First up was the state capital.  I'm always amazed that we can just walk around freely in the State Capitals.

Supreme Court

Governor Asa Hutchinson

House of Representatives

Senate Chambers

Outside on the capital grounds was a sculpture of the Little Rock Nine

Little Rock Nine, the group of African American high-school students who challenged racial segregation in the public schools of Little Rock, Arkansas. The group—consisting of Melba Pattillo, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Minnijean Brown, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Gloria Ray, and Thelma Mothershed—became the centre of the struggle to desegregate public schools in the United States, especially in the South. The events that followed their enrollment in Little Rock Central High School provoked intense national debate about racial segregation and civil rights.

During the summer of 1957, the Little Rock Nine enrolled at Little Rock Central High School, which until then had been all white. The students’ effort to enroll was supported by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which had declared segregated schooling to be unconstitutional.

Testament

Facing law and social custom that defined them as second tier citizens, the Little Rock Nine, taking their cue from the ever expanding struggle for civil rights, opted to define themselves quite differently.  With the help of stalwart parents, other family members and those in the community who shared their vision, this group of young people came to understand the reality of their time, but chose to believe in a reality yet to come.  It was in part, this focus that allowed them to suffer the indignities heaped upon them by those who firmly believed in the laws of inequality.  With the support of countless others around the globe, and especially the guidance of L.C. and Daisy Bates, the Little Rock Nine walked through the doors of Central High School.  Their act of courage opened doors symbolically all over segregated America.

There were plaques with a quote from each of the nine teenagers.  Here are three of them:

"We wanted to widen options for ourselves, and later for our children"
Ernest Green

"My choice to join this group of nine was an act of bearing witness to the sacrifices of all those who have spilled their blood in the ongoing fight for equal rights in this country.  My acceptance of the baton they passed along is my testimony to future generations who must finish the work started by the ancestors we share in common."
Dr. Terrence J. Roberts

"The task that remains is to embrace our interdependence--to see ourselves reflected in every other human being, and to respect & honor differences."
Melba Pattillo Beals

We are seeing more and more of these as we travel around to different cities in our country.  Would love to know what they put in these time capsules.

This time capsule is presented to
The Honorable David H. Pryor
Governor of The State of Arkansas
by Reynolds Metals Company
to be opened
July 4, 2075

Liberty Bell Replica

So while doing some research on the bell in the above photo, I came to learn On April 11, 1950, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune published a news wire story about the U.S. government commissioning 51 replica bells to be part of the “Independence” Savings Bond drive around the country. The bells were to be given to each state to be run on national holidays and observances, with the first being delivered on the 175th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride.

The story explains that just 49 bells were originally ordered — one for each state and the District of Columbia — because in 1950, Alaska and Hawaii weren’t yet states. They opted to make bells for both, plus additional U.S. territories, as there are actually 55 officially-cast bells on display. Well, mostly on display.

So why 55 bells? Why not 51 like the original story stated, or 54 to include the territories? Well, there’s one here in Philly, and one at the Liberty Bell Museum in Allentown, where the original bell was hidden during the revolutionary war, lest it be stolen and melted down for armaments. “Beside the Missouri Capitol,” English wrote, “Independence also got one and is now at the Truman Library site.”

Harry S. Truman was President of the United States at the time the replica bells were made, so an additional one was made for him. Add in two for the U.S. territories, and already counting the one for Washington D.C., and that’s 54.

Growing up in the Philadelphia area, THE Liberty Bell is the only one with a crack.  The others have cracks painted on them to replicate.  So if you are out traveling, be on the lookout for more liberty bells scattered throughout the United States.

After the capital we went looking for some lunch.  When in Memphis we planned to eat at a Gus's Fried Chicken but the lady at the Visitor's Center recommended another restaurant so when we saw one in downtown Little Rock, we had to go.  It's not a fancy place but the friend chicken is good! 

The fried chicken is a little spicy and I have no idea why they serve it with a slice of white bread but it's good!

We have since learned that there is a Gus's Fried Chicken in Mesa, Arizona so we've been able to enjoy this meal again and again when we winter in AZ.  There are in fact 35 locations.  Even in Santa Ana and Long Beach, CA.  If you give it a try, let me know what you think.

Next was a walk around Little Rock.

USS Razorback Submarine was in Tokyo Bay during the formal surrender of Japan, ending World War II.

Little Rock Skyline

We rode a trolley like this one over to North Little Rock, Arkansas (across the Arkansas River)

 

Next up was the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.  The Library/Museum just reopened 13 days before we arrived after being closed due to Covid.

Not the prettiest building I ever saw!

Presidential Limousine

 

 

The Oval Office which is always interesting to see how each president decorates the room and the items displayed.  Before Covid they let you inside to take a photo at the president's desk.

Working on the Statue of Liberty, is a 1946 oil painting by American illustrator Norman Rockwell, showing workmen cleaning the torch held aloft by the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

 

The painting came into the possession of Steven Spielberg, who donated it to the permanent art collection of the White House in 1994. It was displayed in the Oval Office during the administrations of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, sometimes to the left of the President's desk, above a cabinet or table on which was displayed Frederic Remington's sculpture The Bronco Buster. It was later moved by Obama to a position next to the fireplace, above a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. In January 2017, shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump, the painting was still in the Oval Office. It was reportedly removed later in 2017, in favor of a portrait of Andrew Jackson.

Cabinet Room (with each person's name on their chair)
Photo courtesy of Clintonlibrary.gov

I like to look at the gifts the presidents receive from other world leaders.  Here is one I thought was pretty cool.

Saxophone, make by Amati Kraslice
Gift of His Excellency Lech Walesa, President of the Republic of Poland

The Presidential timeline and exhibit alcoves featuring the work of the Clinton administration

Not surprisingly there was no mention of Monica Lewinsky! 

Clinton Presidential Park Bridge

Walking back to our truck I took these photos of the downtown area where it was very clean.

And that was our visit to Little Rock, Arkansas.  Next we're taking about a week to get across Texas.

 

Thanks for following along.