Dunbar-Hunter Expedition (aka Hunter-Dunbar Expedition) (1805-1806)
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Description
This route approximates the route of the Dunbar-Hunter Expedition of 1805-1806.
1. Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture
Located in the former United States Post Office building, the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture celebrates the rich history of the local African American community from 1716, the year Natchez was established to today. The museum's exhibits explore a variety of topics including the Rhythm Nightclub fire, one of the deadliest fires in American history (200 people were killed), the Three Forks Slave Market (the second largest slave market in the South), and the life and legacy of author Richard Wright, who was born here. Many items are on display including photographs, personal belongings, books, works of art, and a wide range of artifacts.
2. Rosalie Mansion
The mansion is built on land that the French fort Rosalie (named after the Duchess of Ponchartrain) was built on in 1716, so the original owner of the home Peter Little, originally of Pennsylvania, decided to keep the name. The home was built in 1823 in the Greek Revival style. Peter and his wife Eliza, though not having children of their own, housed many orphans through their lifetime and those family members who the home was passed to over the decades did the same. Today, the home is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution and is open to the public for daily tours.
3. House on Ellicott's Hill
Built during the years of 1797 and 1801, the House on Ellicott Hill belonged to Merchant planter James Moore. The home dates back to the actions of US military officer Andrew Ellicott who arrived in Natchez to survey the area according to the terms of the Treaty of San Lorenzo. Ellicott defied Spanish officials by raising the American flag on this hill. Construction of this home followed soon after and also served as a signal that Americans intended to control the area prior to the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
4. Frogmore Plantation and Gins
Frogmore is a plantation that was built in the early 1800s in Frogmore, LA. It is a Historical Site and still operates today, though it also functions as a museum and tourist location. Visitors may experience cotton milling firsthand, as the plantation is still home to a steam gin from the 19th century and a modern computerized gin.
5. Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
Built in 1913, the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens was the home of Joseph A. Biedenharn, the first person to devise a method to bottle Coca-Cola in 1894 (Coca-Cola was created by Josseph Pemberton in 1886). The home is now a museum and is furnished as it was when Biedenharn's daughter, Emy-Lou lived there; she passed away in 1984. The museum offers guided tours, special exhibits, children's programming, concerts and other activities. Each year, the museum receives from 25,000 to 30,000 visitors per year.
6. Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
Established in 1986 and located smack in the middle of the old oil field, the Arkansas Natural Resources Museum tells the story of the rich history of oil and brine within the town. While you may not be able to tell today, Smackover was once a booming oil town when oil was discovered in 1922. The Museum covers all of Arkansas' natural resources such as wood, minerals, and coal, but shows special dedication to the oil and brine industry. The Museum is funded by a state sales tax on Oil and Bromine. A large portion of the museum exhibits are dedicated to telling the story of what everyday life in Smackover, Arkansas was like at the height of the oil boom in the early 1920s.
7. McCollum-Chidester House
John Thomas Chidester and his family moved from Tuscumbia, Alabama to Camden, Arkansas in 1857 in order to increase his stage coach business. Once Mr. Chidester's business began to expand, it was important for him to find an ideal site that contained enough space for the stage coaches. When he moved to Camden Arkansas, he spotted a property that he thought contained the perfect amount of land for both his home, and horses for his business. This property was located near the well-traveled trade route, and was owned by a man named Peter McCollum. Mr. Chidester ended up buying the home from Mr. McCollum, and Mr.Chidester built an additional two rooms on both wings of the home. In the spring of 1864, Federal troops began to occupy Camden Arkanasas, and General Frederick Steele made the McCollum-Chidester house his headquarters. Shortly after General Steele took over the McCollum-Chidester house, he and his troops moved closer into town for better protection. In 1963, after Mr.Chidester and his wife passed away, two of their sons; Dan and Tom sold the house to the Ouachita County Historical Society, who then transformed it into a museum.
8. Clark County Historical Society and Museum
Housed in the historic Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot, the Clark County Historical Society and Museum preserves and promotes the history of the county. It features permanent exhibits that explore various topics including the area's natural history, Native American cultures, pioneer settlers, military history, and business and educational history. The museum offers rotating exhibits as well. Artifacts, memorabilia, and photographs are on display inside and outside there is a historic salt kettle and caboose on display. The depot was built ca. 1917 and also operates as an Amtrak station.
9. Hot Springs National Park-Bathhouse Row
Hot Springs National Park became the first of its kind when Congress approved a law that would preserve the area and its famous thermal springs. Hot Springs remains famous for its "healing" waters that have attracted people to the location from before the arrival of Columbus. Today, "Bathhouse Row" includes eight historic bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923. This area, along with the Grand Promenade was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1987.
