Our third day kicked off so nicely. It was not rushed like the previous days had been and we didn’t have to load the car. Yay!
Arkansas Post
We did have a little bit of a drive in the morning. We drove southeast of Little Rock to Arkansas Post National Memorial. Even after doing some research, we were all a little confused about what this place was! In all honesty, it was definitely a more mediocre site, but we got another “stamp” in our passports.
Arkansas Post is located where two rivers join together. It has been a gathering place for many cultures throughout history. The park movie definitely helped us understand this place better and then we walked around the grounds for a little bit. This was once the home of various trading posts as well as military posts. It is also STILL the home of alligators and three different species of poisonous snakes – so we kept our eyes peeled!
Little Rock Central High School
We ate lunch and then made our way back to Little Rock and visited the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. This was so well done and really impactful. We have now taken several trips to the South and so I feel like our kids have a pretty good understanding of what occurred in this area during the Civil Rights era. I am so grateful they have this understanding and truly see everyone around them as children of God.
In 1957, Little Rock High School became the epicenter of change and the ultimate test for the United States to enforce African American civil rights following Brown v. Board of Education. I admire so much the courage and determination the “Little Rock Nine” had. Their ability to see this situation as bigger than themselves and continue to move forward is very inspiring. They are powerful examples to all of us.
A quote I loved from one of the Little Rock Nine was: “We will all have a Little Rock moment – the question is will we be ready and will we have the courage to face it?”
Little Rock Central High School is still a working high school, so you can only go in it after school hours and only on designated tours. Because of that, we didn’t tour the school. But we found the visitor’s center very worthwhile. We did go over to the school which is beautiful. They also have a commemorative garden next to the school and visitor’s center which honors the Little Rock Nine – there are nine benches and nine trees.
“What is happening at Little Rock transcends segregation and integration – this is a question of right against wrong.” Daisy Bates
Across from the visitor’s center is the Magnolia Mobil Gas Station. This place played an important role in the desegregation crisis because it was one of only a few businesses in the surrounding neighborhood that had a telephone on site, so it served as the media headquarters during this time.
Arkansas State Capitol
Last year we spontaneously went to the Iowa State Capitol and really enjoyed it. Jacob especially liked it and asked if we could add that to our trips when possible. We made it happen and it was really great!
Other than a couple groups taking pictures, we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves! They gave us a tour book which was really interesting and helped us as we wandered around. We especially loved all of the marble, going into the gallery, and their “State Room” where they had all of Arkansas’ state symbols.
A must-see was actually on the grounds, known as the “Testament Statues.” It is a set of bronzed statues representing each member of the Little Rock Nine. They face the former office of Governor Orval Faubus, the leader who firmly resisted integration, but was thwarted by President Dwight Eisenhower. Each one of the Little Rock Nine made a statement:
- Ernest Green: “We wanted to widen options for ourselves, and later for our children.”
- Gloria Ray Karlmark: “Dare to object to prejudice and injustice.”
- Jefferson Thomas: “As a youth, God blessed me with the courage of men. As a man, He gave me the spirit of youth.”
- Melba Patillo-Beals: “The task that remains is to embrace our interdependence – to see ourselves reflected in every other human being, and to respect and honor differences.”
- Elizabeth Eckford: “If we have honestly acknowledged our painful but shared past, then we can have reconciliation.”
- Dr. Terrence J. Roberts: “My choice to join this group of nine was an act of bearing witness to the sacrifices of all those who have spilled their blood in the ongoing fight for equal rights in this country. My acceptance of the baton they passed along is my testimony to future generations who much finish the work started by the ancestors we share in common.”
- Thelma Mothershed Wair: “To God be the glory.”
- Carlotta Walls Lanier: “Hard work, determination, persistence, and faith in God were lessons learned from my parents, Cartelyou and Juanita Walls. I was only doing what was right.”
- Minnijean Brown Trickey: “We have to be the change we want to see in the world.” Gandhi
Whole Hog Café
We ended our day by going to an early dinner at the Whole Hog Café for some BBQ. It was quite a joint! It wasn’t bad but it was definitely underwhelming (we’ve had some good BBQ on our travels!). The kids had ribs and Mark and I had the pulled pork.
When we were getting Lydie out of the car for dinner, we noticed her wheelchair was very loose (we haven’t had this happen before). It was such a tender mercy because right next to the BBQ restaurant was an Ace Hardware store, so after dinner we went over and got a tool to tighten things up, and Lydie was good to go!
We made our way back to the hotel and it was so nice to have an earlier night. Lydie definitely welcomed it so that was great. Mark, Sarah, and Benjamin tried to go swimming in the hotel pool only to discover that it was not heated and FREEZING!
