Heritage - Arkansas Culture, History & Heritage

Experience Arkansas Culture, History and Heritage

Our Arkansas culture, history and heritage programming aims to continue Gov. Rockefeller’s efforts to help Arkansans take pride in our state and its history. To accomplish this, we offer programs and activities that promote the stewardship of our cultural resources and allow Arkansans of all generations to learn from and enjoy their Arkansas history and heritage.

Select a Arkansas culture, history and heritage program/activity or scroll down for more information:


The Legacy Gallery

Winthrop Rockefeller’s decision to settle in Arkansas changed our state forever. This segment of Arkansas history is on display in a permanent exhibit titled “Winthrop Rockefeller: a Sphere of Power and Influence Dropped into a River of Need.” Over 300 restored and enlarged photographs are incorporated into 180 murals and interpretative panels to tell the story of The Man, His Heritage, The Mountain, His Influence and His Legacy. 


The Legacy Theater 

For the television generation, the Arkansas Rockefeller legacy is on display in the Legacy Theater. Video documentaries of Gov. Rockefeller’s life are featured in this interactive theater.
 

The Drug Store

A special attraction of the Rockefeller Institute is our “Drug Store.” 

In 1902, Dr. F.E. Baker established the drug store in Stamps, Ark. The complete interior was disassembled in 1967 upon the store’s closure and was transported to Winrock Farms as a gift to Gov. Rockefeller from his wife. This beautifully restored reminder of the “good ole days” now houses our gift shop.


Winthrop Rockefeller Legacy Weekend

This annual event examines and celebrates those areas of society that have been directly impacted by Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s actions and vision. Held during the first weekend of May in order to coincide with the late Governor’s birthday, the program aims to tell the stories behind the history by featuring animated discussions and presentations by those with intimate knowledge of the Governor’s words and deeds. A different topic is examined each year.


The Heritage Farmstead

Given the historical and natural setting of the Rockefeller Institute, we are intertwining our heritage programming with our environmental programming by creating a demonstration farm called “The Heritage Farmstead.”

The Heritage Farmstead is being developed to preserve knowledge of the close-knit agrarian society of small, self-sufficient farms Gov. Rockefeller found when he first arrived on Petit Jean Mountain in 1953. 


The Oral History Project

Examining and preserving the extent and impact of the changes Gov. Rockefeller brought to life in our state and on Petit Jean Mountain is the purpose of the Oral History Project. To date, over 50 interviews of people who knew and/or worked closely with Gov. Rockefeller have been completed. 

An additional emphasis of this project is to document the human history of Petit Jean Mountain. These interviews capture a variety of stories about culture, schools, farming, music, religion and other elements of mountain life. 

The oral histories have been combined into an archived collection. Plans are to supplement this collection with existing news clippings and other historical materials. This collection is available for use in scholarly research but is open to the public by appointment only. If you would like access to this collection, please contact us at (501) 727-5435 to make arrangements for your visit.
 

Collaboration is important to us as the programs at the Rockefeller Institute are designed to complement efforts by other organizations in the state. We value input from the public and partnerships with other organizations and institutions. If you have ideas for heritage programs you would like to see offered or would like to partner with us to offer a specific heritage program, please e-mail us.