When school’s out, the kids are ready for fun! Look no further than Arkansas Heritage for staycation ideas happening all summer-long.
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
One of MTCC’s current exhibits is “And the Beat Don’t Stop: 50 Years of Hip-Hop” on display through July 1. This exhibit utilizes artifacts from the National Hip-Hop Museum in Washington, DC, and also from the museum’s own collection. There are lots of activities connected to the exhibit, so check out MTCC’s Calendar of Events for more.
During the month of June, celebrate Juneteenth. MTCC has been a leader in Arkansas Juneteenth festivities since 2009, and this year is going to be amazing with the launch of Juneteenth in da Rock. Activities include a 5K and block party on June 18 as well as month-long programming opportunities at the museum.
As always, your kids can have a great time in the Children’s Gallery “Same. Different. Amazing.” This gallery is designed for kids pre-K to third grade to show them how our differences and similarities make us all amazing.
While at the museum, explore some of the incredible African American whose contributions help to make this state great in the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame housed on the third floor.
Historic Arkansas Museum
Step back in time when Little Rock was first being settled in the early 1800s at Historic Arkansas Museum. The museum’s historic ground showcase some of the oldest homes in Little Rock! You can take a tour of the grounds and explore the various galleries inside the museum center including the Sturgis Children’s Gallery.
For a fun family-friendly weekend activity, explore hands-on learning at 3rd Saturdays at HAM. Every third Saturday, we have costumed interpreters on the grounds in the Woodruff Print Shop making prints and you may get pulled into a game of checkers or cards with our demonstrations of pioneer games and other fun activities. Nearby in the Brownlee House kitchen, you can see how early Arkansans cooked various foods, many items harvested from our backyard kitchen garden. While the inside of the museum is free and open to the public, access to the grounds costs $2.50 for adults, $1.50 for 65+ and $1 for children 18 and under.
Another chance to learn about life of Arkansans in the 1800s with Pioneer Day Camp, June 13 - 17. Planned activities include visiting the blacksmith, printing on the museum’s printing press, hearth-side cooking in the Brownlee House kitchen and so much more! There are scholarship spots available. Contact Joleen Linson, director of education, at 501-324-9342 or [email protected].
Old State House Museum
Head over to Arkansas’s original state capitol building to learn more about our state’s political history!
Learn all about the Governors of Arkansas and their wives in two exhibits at Old State House Museum: Governors of Arkansas and First Ladies of Arkansas: Women of Their Times. There you can see memorabilia, clothing, posters and more from Arkansas’s First Families.
Put on your dancing shoes and explore “Play It Loud: Concerts at Barton Coliseum.” It’s a walk down memory lane that many adults share with their kids. Cassette tapes, vinyl records, event posters and so much more adorn the walls showcasing some of Arkansas’s musical history.
This year’s summer camp draws inspiration from “Play It Loud,” a music-themed week-long adventure for students in third to ninth grades. The camp runs July 18 – 22 with a registration deadline of July 1. For more information on the camp contact Education Director Georganne Sisco at 501-324-8641 or 1 or [email protected]. 
Delta Cultural Center
If you head south this summer, the Delta Cultural Center has a lot of fun going on. Check out Delta Day Camp! This summer camp, running 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 7-10 at the DCC Depot Museum, will include activities and programs to help kids understand and appreciate the Arkansas Delta. There will also be a hike, games and crafts. The event is free! For more information or to register contact Education Director Richard Spilman at 870-338-4350 [email protected].
Celebrate the Fourth of July with the Battle of Helena reenactment from 9 a.m. to noon. Check out artillery demonstrations, a naval history reenactor and fun activities including music.
More fun for the kids is the Children’s Music Series. From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 20, join the DCC for this fun and educational series that includes activities, games and crafts for kids 5-10.
Natural Areas
Of course, how can you enjoy summer without getting outside! The Natural State has so much to offer in our 77 natural areas that are open for you. The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission works hard to preserve natural diversity, to promote choice among beneficial uses of the environment, and to promote a balance between development and environmental protection in the State of Arkansas for this and succeeding generations. What that boils down to is amazing places to explore nature in our state. There’s a complete guide on the Arkansas Heritage website to pick the one closest to you!
Public Art
If you get out and about in downtowns across our state there is beautiful art to enjoy. In downtown Little Rock check out the Little Rock Mural Tour. Grab your phone and bright up your social media feed! Head down to Riverfront Park for the sculpture garden, which is full of surprising public art located against a backdrop of the Arkansas River and the downtown skyline. If you head north across the river, you can see the wide selection of murals including a public art scavenger hunt! The Arkansas Arts Council provides programs, workshops and grant opportunities to Arkansas artists to fulfil their mission to advance and empower the arts for the benefit of all Arkansans.
National Register of Historic Places
All throughout Arkansas you can find history and learn more about Arkansas through the National Register of Historic Places and the Arkansas Register of Historic Places. You can sort from our online list by county or by keyword (such as “courthouse”). You might also be interested in our Historical Marker program that’s growing each year. This is a great way to learn about history that might be just around the corner.