The Clinton Center's newest temporary exhibit, The Mighty Mississippi: A Mosaic of America's Growth, debuted on February 9, 2019. The exhibit explores the impact of the Mississippi River on commerce specifically through river navigation to carry commodities to market; the growth of agriculture and its expansion to markets across the US and around the world; the environment through floods, disasters, and other historic markers; as well as culture through popular literature, music, and art. Visitors will take a journey down the Mississippi River as they view dozens of artifacts and ephemera, including:
• first editions of Mark Twain’s novels, "The Prince and the Pauper" and "The Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court"
• original Normal Rockwell lithographs from Twain’s works
• the Epiphone guitar and playing knife of Helena native and famed blues guitar player Cedell Davis
• a scale model of the infamous Sultana side-wheel steamboat which exploded in the United States’ worst maritime disaster
The new exhibit is part of the Clinton Center's Fusion: Arts + Humanities Arkansas program. Now in its third year, Fusion promotes heritage and culture and celebrates human achievement by weaving the arts and humanities together. Fusion 2019 explored the impact of the Mississippi River on commerce, agriculture, the environment and culture.
Fusion: Arts + Humanities Arkansas is made possible through the generous support of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, Centennial Bank, and the Little Rock Port Authority.
