December is here and that means holiday shopping. Did you know the gift shops at our four Arkansas Heritage museums are a great place to pick up items with unique ties to the Natural State? Can’t swing by to browse? Contact the stores and arrange payment and shipping over the phone.

 

 

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

Located on the corner of Broadway and historic Ninth Street in downtown Little Rock, this museum store features Arkansas Made Black Crafted items and has something for every member of the family. For questions, contact Emily Kearns, museum store manager, at (501) 683-3724 or [email protected].

1. The Mr. Brown Bear - $14.99 - Named after MTCC’s beloved former facilities manager, the Mr. Brown Bear looks adorable in its custom MTCC t-shirt. Whether inspiring kids to engage in nurturing and exploratory imaginative play or just being the perfect size for hugs and cuddles, this is a must have gift for families with children. 
2. Arkansas Black Crafted Sweatshirt - $29.99 - Rock the culture with a Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (MTCC) hooded sweatshirt. These sweatshirts showcase our Arkansas Made Black Crafted artist program. The Arkansas Made Black Crafted program focuses on Black entrepreneurship, growth and community. 
3. MTCC Snowflake Christmas Ornament - $12.99 - Shining bright with a gorgeous golden finish, this ornament with our MTCC logo is a great holiday stocking stuffer. Perfect for the holiday tree or year-round display. 
4. Church (16x20) by Perrion Hurd - $50 - Arkansas native artist and recent Governor’s Arts Award winner Perrion Hurd studied graphic design and illustration at the University of Memphis, but considers himself to be more of a self-taught visual artist. His philosophy towards his work is to create something new every day, stay young and free at heart and to grow and learn through positive self-expression.  His influence of Memphis's Beale Street and New Orleans culture shines in this piece.
5. “From Cotton to Silk: The Magic of Black Hair” by Crystal C. Mercer - $19.95 - Sprinkled with #BlackGirlMagic and an ode to cultural beauty, ”From Cotton to Silk” encourages girls everywhere to appreciate their hair in its natural state and love themselves just the way they are. Its enchanting pages reveal 467 hours of hand-stitching poured into textile renderings that blend cloth, culture and the superpowers of the kinky, curly coif. 

 

Historic Arkansas Museum

If you know Historic Arkansas Museum, then you’ve probably heard of Arkansas Made. As the state’s primary collector of authentic Arkansas decorative, mechanical and fine arts, that’s what HAM is all about. And the museum store reflects a love for all things “Arkansas Made.” For questions contact Paige James, museum store manager, at (501) 324-9620 or [email protected] or visit the Museum Store's website.

1. Jewelry by Garden Sass - $36, $45 – Located in Dover, Arkansas, these handcrafted jewelry pieces are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face this holiday season. Artist Leslie Hassel used items from the Mary Fletcher Worthen Medicinal Herb Garden on the museum’s historic grounds to create these pieces.
2. Lake in the Willows Apiary Honey Products – Price Varies – Perfect for any charcuterie board, these honey products are locally harvested in Scott, Arkansas. Items include honey sticks ($.50), candles ($3.95), creamed honey in various flavors ($5.95) and bottes of delicious honey (16 oz. $10.95).
3. Real McCoy Sharps Set - $74 – This set from the Mt. Ida McCoy Knife Company includes the Real McCoy pocketknife, a medium soft Arkansas whetstone and laser engraved cedar box.
4. Tough Ash Toys Vehicles - $20, $32, $36 – These lovely Arkansas hand crafted wooden vehicles will make a wonderful gift for any small child.
5. Blown Glass Ornament - $24 – The hand blown glass ornaments are sure to look stunning on your Christmas tree. Ron Mynatt of Callahan Mountain Studio makes them in several different colors.

 

Delta Cultural Center

Located in historic Helena, Arkansas, this museum and educational complex tells the story of the land and its people and what makes the Arkansas Delta Region unique. You can also find unique gift items that tell the Delta’s story. For questions contact Tanya Thomas, museum store manager, at [email protected].

1. Delta Blues T-Shirt - $15 – Show your support of the Delta Blues in Arkansas with this great t-shirt, offered in various sizes.
2. Blood in Their Eyes: The Elaine Race Massacres of 1919 by Grif Stockley - $15.95 – This book shares the tragic story of the race massacres that occurred in Elaine, Arkansas in 1919. Author Grif Stockley takes you through the events, resulting trials, and shares the lives of the survivors.
3. Delta Cultural Center Mug - $7.95 – What a great way to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and remember the history and fun at DCC.
4. Sonny Boy Meal Sack - $7 – The Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Junior Lockwood radio show “King Biscuit Time” was so popular, their sponsor King Biscuit Flour created a Sonny Boy brand cornmeal mix in 1941. This bag is a reminder of this great historical note.
5. Delta Cultural Center Cap - $14.95 – If you love the blues you’ll love this cap. “I ‘Heart’ Blues” is a great way to tell everyone you love Delta Blues.

Old State House Museum

The Old State House has been many things during its history, a war memorial, headquarters of the State Police and now a world class museum with a great gift shop that’s conveniently located in the heart of Little Rock’s downtown. Shop for items made by Arkansas artists or reminders of the museum’s exhibits. A great shop for Arkansas history buffs. For more information contact Brendetta Murrell, deputy director, at (501) 324-8646 or [email protected].

1. “Christmas Night on the Farm” by Maria Hoskins, illustrated by Lauren Crymes - $19.99 – A Christmas Eve story told from a farm setting. The final pages invite children to write their own Christmas story.
2. Red Blown Glass Ornament by James Hayes - $30 – Hand blown ornament by Arkansas artist James Hayes. Includes a card detailing the artist and his work.
3. Kelly Mulhollan "True Faith, True Light Christmas Carols on the Ozark Guitar" - $11.99 – Listen to the sounds of Christmas played on the unique guitar created by Ed Stilley, a Hogscald Hollow farmer turned craftsman, and sung by folk singer Kelly Mulhollan.
4. Cherry Glass Grandmother’s Buttons Earring, Bracelet - $28, $48 – These jewelry items were made in occupied Japan during the second World War. They are beautiful additions to any jewelry collection.
5. Red and Black Happy Holiday Old State House Museum Ornament - $5 – This ornament will add festive cheer to your holiday decorations, and a little reminder of the memories from the Old State House Museum.

 

All museum stores are open during business hours.