Arkansas history tours in 2013

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program’s “Walks Through History” and “Sandwiching in History” tours will visit historic properties across the state during 2013, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced today.

In the “Walks Through History” program, AHPP historians each month provide free guided walking tours of historic structures and districts across Arkansas. Most tours begin at 11 a.m. on Saturdays. The 2013 schedule includes:

* March 9, Shriners Country Club (Marylake Carmelite Monastery) at East End in Saline County, co-sponsored by the Saline County Library

* April 13, Cherry Street Historic District at Helena-West Helena, co-sponsored by the Delta Cultural Center (this tour will begin at 1 p.m. and coincides with the annual meeting of the Arkansas Historical Association)

* May 11, Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center at Fayetteville, co-sponsored by the Fayetteville Historic District Commission

* June 15, Fishback Neighborhood Historic District at Fort Smith, co-sponsored by the Fort Smith Museum of History and Fort Smith Historical Society

* July 20, Historic Downtown Leslie in Searcy County, co-sponsored by the Searcy County Historical Society

* August 10, Pine Bluff Commercial Historic District, co-sponsored by the Pine Bluff Historic District Commission and Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Historical Museum

* September 14, Whittington Park Historic District in Hot Springs, co-sponsored by the Whittington Valley Neighborhood Association and Garland County Historical Society

* October 12, Judsonia Bridge and Historic Downtown Judsonia, co-sponsored by the White County Historical Society

* November 9, Camp Ouachita Girl Scout Camp Historic District near Thornburg in Perry County, co-sponsored by the Perry County Historical Museum and Perry County Historical Society

* December 14, Marked Tree Commercial Historic District in Poinsett County, co-sponsored by the Marked Tree Chamber of Commerce.

The “Sandwiching in History” tour series targets Pulaski County structures and sites. The noontime series includes a brief lecture and tour of the subject property. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches with them. “Sandwiching in History” tours will be held in 2013 at the following locations:

* January 4, B.P.O.E. Elks Club, 401 Scott Street, Little Rock

* February 1, Capital Hotel, 111 West Markham Street, Little Rock

* March 1, St. John’s Seminary, 2500 North Tyler Street, Little Rock

* April 5, Charles Youngblood House, 320 West 18th Street, North Little Rock

* May 3, Farmer-Brooks House, 623 Orange Street, North Little Rock

* June 7, Little Rock YMCA, 524 South Broadway, Little Rock

* July 12, Villa Marre, 1321 Scott Street, Little Rock

* August 2, Emmett W. Jenkins House, 923 West 24th Street, Little Rock

* September 6, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Boulevard, Little Rock

* October 4, Lakewood Park, 4500 Lakeshore Drive, North Little Rock

* November 1, Edward H. Colgan House, 2318 South Summit Street, Little Rock

* December 6, Faucette-Cook Building, 421-423-425 Main Street, North Little Rock.

All tours are free and open to the public. For information, call the AHPP at (501) 324-9880, write the agency at 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center St., Little Rock, AR 72201, send an e-mail message to info@arkansaspreservation.org, or visit www.arkansaspreservation.org.

The AHPP is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency responsible for identifying, evaluating, registering and preserving the state’s cultural resources. Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the Historic Arkansas Museum.