Arkansas Vacation and Travel Ideas for Literary Tours
Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center
1021 West Cherry Street
Piggott, AR 72454
Website: hemingway.astate.edu/inde#78DE9
Email: mailto:ddismukes@centurytel.net
Phone (870) 598-3487
It was here, at the family home of his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, that Ernest Hemingway (1899 - 1961) wrote part of his classic Farewell To Arms, along with several short stories. The barn was converted into a writing studio so the author could work in privacy. The Pfeiffer family was one of the most affluent in Arkansas, and their estate included over 60,000 acres of land.
Today, visitors can tour the barn studio and the house and take a stroll around the grounds. The focus of the museum is not only the life of the writer and his wife, but also on the history of the 1930s, with exhibits exploring the Depression era, agriculture issues, and world affairs.
Special events include a creative writers' workshop and a teen writing camp, as well as educational programs given by the faculty of Arkansas State University. In May, the museum celebrates the 1927 Parisian wedding of the Hemingways with some type of special event. Past festivities have included an art show and a Parisian picnic. The monthly calendar on the website offers more details about the museum's ongoing schedule of special events.
Other sites of interest to Hemingway fans include:
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida. For more information, see The Key West Museum , visit: http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/main_menu.html, or call: (305) 294-1136.
The Hemingway Museum and Birthplace Home in Oak Park, Illinois. For more information see The Hemingway Museum and Birthplace , visit: http://www.ehfop.org/, or call: (708) 848-2222.
Hemingway in Sun Valley, Sun Valley, Idaho. For more information visit: http://www.visitsunvalley.com/, or call: (866) 305-0408.
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Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center
At the intersection of Daisy Bates Street & Park Street
Little Rock, AR 72202
Website: www.nps.gov/chsc/index.ht#79214
Email: Go to "Contact Us" section of website
Phone: (501) 374-1957
This gorgeous, sprawling high school was built with Oxford University in mind. In 1957 a monumental event in American history occurred here-an event that has been written about time and time again. On September 23, 1957 a hostile mob protested the integration of the all-white school. Nine black teenagers bravely entered the building but were removed for safety purposes. The next day President Eisenhower ordered the army to escort the nine students.
Today, guides lead tours of the high school and surrounding premises, lasting 30-45 minutes. Listen as the guide discusses the memorable days of the Civil Rights movement and walk around the Commemorative Garden. For security purposes, there are no self-guided tours of the school, and absolutely no purses, backpacks or fannypacks are allowed on the school tour.
The school is an operating high school. Tours are only available for groups of ten or more and must be booked at least two weeks in advance. The Visitor Center is currently housed in a restored service station across the street from the school. Planning is underway for a larger, permanent visitor center for the historic site.
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