Bella Vista Off The Beaten Path Tips by deecat

"History You Grew Up With..."

All the ads for The Rogers Daisy Airgun Museum say, "History you grew up with...", and when I said to Allan, "Do you know what the Daisy Museum is?" He knew that it was the Daisy airgun!

It's located at 202 W. Walnut Street in Rogers, AR 72756 and well worth a visit.
Since 1960, Daisy's corporate offices in Rogers have kept an impressive airgun collection. In 1999, the company chose to utilize that collection to create an entertaining museum to serve as a tourist attraction. In 2004, they relocated the Airgun Museum to this current location [the old Rexall Drugstore and Soda Fountain.]

This is certainly a fun museum that brings back memories of childhood with "B-B guns"!
They have a nice gift shop where memorabilia can be purchased as souvenirs or gifts. I saw traditional and old-fashioned toys, scented soaps that were handmade, and postcards.

Kids love that they can beg their parents to look at the rifles, pistos, youth guns, ammo, and accessories such as logo caps, posters, and the famous Red Ryder Cowboy Carbine Tin Sign

You walk through the museum at your own pace. I saw antique Daisy advertisements that I remember seeing as a teenager, antique Daisy airguns [over 140 of them!], a display of primitive airguns dating back to the 1700s, and the very latest Daisy airguns.

While in Rogers, don't miss it!

Phone: (479) 986-6873

Website: http://www.daisymuseum.com

Newly Restored Victory Theater in Rogers

In November of 2,000, The Victory Theater officially opened its curtain for the first time in 30 years It first opened in 1927 as the first motion picture theater in Northwest Arkansas. For its time, it was a technological wonder, but after years of success, by the 1970s it was closed and sat empty in downtown Rogers for more than 20 years.

In 1996, the Rogers Little Theater began to renovate this old theater. Since this group relies solely on volunteer participation, it was quite a challenge. Thankfully, the arts patrons, business community, and fundraisers all helped to breathe new life into this beautiful old building.

Now The Rogers Little Theater has been able to expand its programing. It now includes musical concerts, summer repertoire, an art gallery for local artists' exhibits, and children's theater programs. While we were there, as you can see in the photograph, "Footloose" was being presented.

What a difference volunteers can make in a community!

Phone: (479) 631-8988

Peel Mansion & Historic Gardens

If you love history and architecture as I do, I think that you would really enjoy visiting the 1875 Peel Mansion & Historic Gardens in Bentonville. This is a town that is rich in Civil War history, and Colonel Samuel West Peel is part of that history.

In 1875, the Colonel built a villa tower Italianate mansion in Bentonville [actually it was on the outskirts of Bentonville at that time!] His home was surrounded by almost 200 acres of apple trees. That mansion is known as the 1975 Peel Mansion & Historic Gardens and is well worth a visit. It's been preserved as a museum of authentic interior design with furnishings from the early Victorian period. There's also an outdoor museum of historic perennials, native plants, and roses.

The gatehouse serves as a gift shop at the entrance to the grounds; it's really a pre-Civil War Andy Lynch log cabin [It came from Brightwater, Arkansas] This cabin has a fascinating history. It once stood near the Battle of Pea Ridge.

Several historical societies reside in the Peel Mansion, and tours are given Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.

It costs $3.00 for adults & $1.00 for children 6-12.

Phone: (479) 273 9664

Historical Downtown Bentonville

Bentonville, Arkansas is located 5 miles from Bella Vista. It's an old city that was established in 1837. During the Civil War, this small city was burned except for 12 buildings.

At first it was an agricultural community with apple and pear orchards covering most of the area. Cattle and chickens are still important today, and Tyson Company [chickens] play an important role in the community.

Bentonville's city-center is known as The Square and that is where the statue in my picture is located along with the City Hall, the Massey Hotel [now the library], and the Benton County Courthouse. This little town has over 70 historical buildings and homes [many are on the National Register of Historical Places].

This Confederate Soldier Statue guards this Square. It was dedicated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in "memory of the Confederates who lost their lives and recognizing those who survived." The head of the soldier was modeled after the 14th Governor of Arkansas and former U.S. Senator, James H. Berry..

I don't have photographs, but I loved the Library building [originally the Massey Hotel] that sits on the site of the original 1840 Eagle Hotel that burned down. Its Doric Columns are impressive.

I also like the City Hall Building with its red, granite columns, which was originally the Benton County National Bank.

This is, indeed, a quaint and historic town that is perfect for a history and architectual buff such as myself.

Originally a 5&10 Store.....

The main reason that Allan and I drove from Bella Vista to Bentonville, Arkansas, was to see this visitors Center to see the history and origin of Wal-Mart. My sister Ronda has worked at Wal-Mart in our hometown of Robinson, and I want to see for myself what this company is all about.

It truly is an educational and historical facility filled with fascinating displays, videos, and philosophies. More than that, it is a history of retail. It is located in the Walton family's original 5&10, and it looks like a store from the old dime store days.

There are individual learning stations scattered throughout the facility where I learned about the amazing growth of this company.

I especially enjoyed seeing Mr. Sam's 1979 red and white Ford F-150 custom pickup truck that has about 66,000 miles on it. It also has cages on the back for his much-loved hunting dogs..[See 2nd photo]

I also enjoyed the reconstructed Wal-Mart Home Office [it's exactly as it was on the day he died!]

In addition, I really loved all the family photographs, the Sam philosophies, and the memorials to Sam, his brother, and his youngest son [who died in 2005]. [See 3rd photo]

I was also impressed with all the information about Sam's wife, Helen Walton, and all the good work she has done for this community.

The center is FREE! It is Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Other Contact: 105 N. Main St., Bentonville, AR

Phone: (479)273-1329