Siloam Springs Community Guide

Have you dropped by the Siloam Springs Museum lately? ere's always something new and fascinating going on at at the museum that brings to light the rich, layered history of Siloam Springs, and there's no fee for touring this town treasure. Here are a few upcoming exhibits and events: • A new exhibit about the Gunter family home. Caldeen D. Gunter established a trading post, Hico, with the Cherokee Nation in 1848. e historic Gunter home and related information about the family should be available by March 1, according to Mary Noland, the museum's director. • On March 4, Troy Anderson of Siloam Springs will be giving an exciting presentation about his work as an artist. Anderson is a Native American of Cherokee descent, with artworks that depict much of his heritage. At the museum you can see on display Anderson's five bronze sculptures of Native Americans, which Nolan considers to be the museum's greatest treasure. ese pieces were donated by the Daisye and Bennett Howell Art Collection. Besides sculpture, Anderson is noted for his vibrant use of acrylics and other artforms, including graphics, watercolors and pastels. You don't want to miss this opportunity to learn about the award-winning work of Siloam's own Troy Anderson. Visit siloamspringsmuseum. com in the coming weeks for the time of his presentation. • In concert with the 48th annual Dogwood Festival (April 28-30) sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the museum will display "Quilts of the Ozarks." Details are coming soon for this well-loved exhibit of local quilts and quilters. • e Siloam Springs Heritage Festival, still in the planning stages, is set for June 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city park. Keep an eye out for emerging details. • e Industry Exhibit is a cool feature, and will soon be getting some upgrades. Financed by a grant from La-Z- Boy, it showcases the history of important local industries in the city such as Gates Rubber, Allen Canning and Cobb-Vantress. ere's also a popular display of the "old favorites," as Nolan calls them – a doctor's office, the old barber shop and a variety of farm implements "because that's a big part of our history – from apple growing to dairy farming to raising chickens." One fun exhibit is a 1973 vintage living room with the first La-Z- Boy chair that rolled off their manufacturing line in town, complete with a shag carpet and TV. Other notable exhibits are a display of John Hargrove, Siloam's founder, who recognized the business potential of the spring on his land that he promoted for medicinal properties. e healing springs were a popular tourist destination, and a year later, the population surged to 2,264 people, and in 1881, the town was incorporated as Siloam Springs. Adding to this growth was the railroad, whose history and importance is on display. e Kansas City Southern's route through Siloam Springs basically put the town on the map. Touring the museum, you'll learn about Simon Sager, the German furniture maker. He and his family, the first-known white settlers in the area, emigrated from Germany in 1835 and built a cabin in 1844. e cabin sits on the John Brown University campus and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One room of interest holds fine Sager furniture – a bed, bureau and chair made by Christian Sager, Simon's brother. ere's also a replica of the Sager cabin. e Siloam Springs Museum was founded in 1969 in the town's old train depot, and in 1971 was moved to the present building that was formerly the Church of Christ. It was completely renovated in 2018 for a cleaner, fresher look, and to allow for more exhibit space. Besides visitors from the region, other states, and even other countries, the museum is a favorite field trip destination for schools. Last year, Nolan said, about 300 students from area schools got to learn about Siloam's colorful history, but not with boring talks – children participate in fun scavenger hunts that give hands-on learning experience. inking of our place in history as humans, we might well heed the words of poet and essayist Eric Overby, "You are a continuation of something bigger than yourself. We are all a part of the life and history of the place." In that spirit, the museum, with its humble start in a train depot, has an important mission: Preserving the history, celebrating the culture, and participating in the community of Siloam Springs. Siloam Springs Museum is located at 112 North Maxwell St., Siloam Springs. For more information, call 479-524-4011 or visit siloamspringsmuseum.com. Exciting new Attractions and Events Happening at Siloam Springs Museum | By Suzanne Rhodes 2023 Siloam Springs community guide | 45

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