The Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie hosted the quarterly meeting of the Arkansas Delta Byways Tourism Association on July 22, welcoming members from across eastern Arkansas to Stuttgart.
The event began with an extensive tour of the museum led by Director Fara Foster. Visitors explored exhibits highlighting life on the Arkansas Grand Prairie, including the museum’s recreated prairie home, one-room schoolhouse, two-thirds-scale replica of Stuttgart’s first church, and early fire station.
Inside the museum, attendees learned about the history of Arkansas County, from its earliest Native American inhabitants to the development of today’s rice industry. The tour also featured recreated storefronts representing businesses from the area’s early settlement years, as well as exhibits showcasing Stuttgart’s rich waterfowl hunting heritage.
Following the tour, attendees enjoyed a meal provided by the Stuttgart Advertising and Promotion Commission before the business meeting began.
The Arkansas Delta Byways Tourism Association is a nonprofit organization based on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. The organization is recognized by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism as the official tourism promotion association for 15 counties in eastern Arkansas.
The meeting included a welcome from Stuttgart Mayor Norma Strabala, followed by updates from tourism representatives across the Arkansas Delta on upcoming events and attractions throughout the region.