Saline County museums have partnered together to host the annual Saline County Museum Day on Saturday, September 14th, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The ten museums are: Saline County History and Heritage Society, Arkansas Firefighter Museum & Fire Education Center, The Shoppach House, Benton Athletic Memorial Museum, The Haskell Historical and Fire Museum, Boone Family Farm, The Gann Museum, Bauxite Museum, Mashburn Mustang Museum, and Bryant Historical Museum. These museums are located throughout the county in Bauxite, Bryant, Benton, Haskell, and Mabelvale.

There will be three prize drawings that participants can earn entries based on the number of museums visited on Museum Day. Visitors can have their Museum Day brochure marked at each visit and then turn it in on the last visit to be entered in the drawings. Visiting two or more museums earns an entry into the drawing for a small prize basket and a $25 Walmart gift card. Visiting four or more museums earns an entry into the drawing for a large prize basket and a $50 Walmart gift card. Visiting seven or more museums earns an entry for the grand prize of a DNA Ancestry Kit and a $50 Walmart gift card.

Participating Museums

Arkansas Firefighter Museum & Fire Education Center

15225 Sardis Road, Mabelvale Arkansas, 72103

The Arkansas Fire Museum and Fire Education Center was formed five years ago by six retired and active firefighters from across the state of Arkansas. The purpose of the museum and fire education center is to show the history of the Arkansas Fire Service from the first organized fire department (1840) to the present. Our displays go back to the 1870 to the present. There are 834 Fire Departments, paid and volunteer, representing over 14,000 Firefighters in the State of Arkansas! Our current location is temporary. We will be moving to the North Little Rock Central Fire Station, located at 723 Maple Street, in the summer of 2025.

Bauxite Museum

6707 Benton Road, Bauxite

Features three decades of history, covering the 20s-50s.The most valuable exhibit is a more than $20,000 evening gown made of woven aluminum thread. Designed by Jean Desses of Paris, it is one of only two such garments in existence. The community section includes pictures, pen and inks of old landmarks; everyday items; mining section contains historic photos, various tools, hats and lunch pails used by the miners; the hallway depicts Bauxite’s ethnic diversity including Mexico Camp, Little Africa, Little Italy; military memorabilia, pictures of former graduating classes and other school items, and sports highlights. Life-size bronze statue of a miner honors the memory of local miners. 

Benton Athletic Memorial Museum

(Located on Benton High School campus) Border Street, Benton, AR, United States, Arkansas

The concept for the Benton Athletic Memorial Museum materialized at a public meeting in February of 1995. In April, the School Board accepted the concept and agreed that the building could be built on a site adjacent to the Cook Field House. The Museum Board agreed to build the building at no cost to the School District and administratively operate the facility upon completion of construction. The building was dedicated and presented to the school board as school district property in October of 1999. At present, the Museum houses over 700 trophies, pictures, award jackets, blankets, scrapbooks, numerous memorabilia, annuals, and historical displays of athletics, music, scholastic awards, and school events dating back to 1906.

Boone Family Farm

5900 Boone Road, Bryant, Arkansas

Britton Boone and his descendants arrived in Arkansas in 1883 from Pontotoc County, Mississippi. He had 10 children. One of Britton Boone’s sons was Joseph Ward Boon, born February 18, 1861. Hoseph Ward Boone was also the father of 10 children, one of which was Allen Jasper Boone, born on May 31, 1889. Allen and Georgia Boone purchased 80 acres of property on Boone Road (now 5900 Boone Road) on December 1, 1917 from H.K & Emma Ford. The Allen Boone house at 5900 Boone Road (Built by Allen & Georgia Boone) is the oldest Boone House left on Boone Road in Bryant and still sits on the original property. The last of Allen Boone’s family, Gola Boone, died in August 2015.

The Gann Museum

218 South Market Street, Benton

Built in 1893, the office of Dr. Dewell Gann, Sr., is the only known bauxite building in existence, making it an architectural landmark. The building was constructed by patients who could not afford to pay for services he had rendered to them. The soft stone was dug from a farm nearby, sawn into blocks with a handsaw and allowed to harden for six weeks. On an inside wall is an imprint of Dr. Gann’s foot, made from the time he spent sitting waiting for patients in a rocker with his foot propped against the wall.  The building served as the Gann Medical Office until 1946 when it was given by Dr. Dewell Gann, Jr., to the City of Benton to be used as a library and, later, a museum.

Located next to the museum is the Gann residence.

The Gann Museum has an extensive collection of Niloak and other pottery, Native American Artifacts, memorabilia, and history of Saline County, as well as artifacts and memorabilia of Dr. Gann Sr. and Jr.   The Gann Museum also plays an important role in Saline County by creating a physical link to its heritage. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the 138^thbuilding in the state so recognized.

Our Special Collections Assistant writes articles and summaries based on interesting findings from the Gann collection. He also writes about current events in Saline County and how they pertain to historical events. You can read these articles on our History Now blog.

The Haskell Historical and Fire Museum (or the Station 4 Museum)

529 E. Elm, Haskell, AR, United States, Arkansas

The Haskell Historical Museum was dedicated on November 6, 2010. It contains items owned by various Haskell residents. The oldest item is from the 1860’s. The Haskell Fire Museum contains over 1,500 items with several things donated by Haskell residents. The museums are open on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Private tours can be arranged by calling Emaline Stroud at 501-303-0384 or Warren Kuhn at 501-860-1750.

Mashburn Mustang Museum

1321 Holy Ridge Road, Traskwood

Dale Mashburn started restoring Mustangs behind his house in the 70’s then opened his shop on the interstate in Bryant in 1990. He has always dreamed of opening a Mustang museum. In 2010, we began planning the build and talking about it. Immediately folks we knew came out of the woodwork wanting to help. A gravel pit 2 miles away, the use of a backhoe, a dozer, a dump truck, a tractor-trailer, and an amazing group of talented friends showed up every weekend.  The first car in was Dale’s yellow 1970 Boss 302. The cars on display are a mixture of Dale’s cars and customers’ cars.  Most were restored by Dale and his crew at the Bryant shop.

The Shoppach House

503 North Main Street, Benton, Arkansas, 72015

The Shoppach House is an important Home in the fabric of Benton. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it was built in 1853, from brick fired on-site. It is the oldest brick home still standing in Saline County. The inhabitants and builders of this Home include some of the earliest settlers of Arkansas, one arriving in 1817 when it was still Missouri Territory. Its occupants, descendants of the Shoppach/Pelton names, have included Civil Servants such as County Clerks, City Clerks, Sheriffs, and State Politicians. It has sheltered prominent businessmen, significant women of Benton, and soldiers from both sides of the Civil War. Countless Saline Country family names have connections to this special house. Boyles, Praytor, Tucker, and Bush to name only a few. Drop by and check it out!

Saline County History & Heritage Society

123 North Market Street, Benton, Arkansas

The Saline County History and Heritage Society was formed in 1986 to preserve the history of Saline County, Arkansas. It contains Saline County artifacts and county records dating back to the beginning of the county in 1835. You may be able to trace your Saline County family back to its earliest days. The archives are open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. Monthly programs are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM except in November and December. The membership is $25.00 a year and you receive the award-winning Saline, the journal of the Saline County History & Heritage Society.

Bryant Historical Museum

200 S/W 3rd St, Bryant Arkansas

The Bryant Historical Museum began after Lewallen, along with co-member Patsy Kuhn, began tackling the task of archiving Bryant’s history. The discovery of the hidden Kirkpatrick Cemetery, found when Bryant businesses began expanding offices, led to the society working to place the cemetery on the Arkansas Registry. Included among the artifacts are campaign buttons and posters; photos of the prior Bryant school, which burned in the 1950s; old fireman uniforms; an antique spinning wheel; relics of the old Prickett dairy farm; and an announcement regarding President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s visit through town by train.