We took our time getting to Little Rock, stopping at Mount Magazine State Park to do a little exploring. Mt. Magazine is in the Ozark National Forest and sports the highest natural point in Arkansas. We took the Signal Hill trail to the top where Cathy posed for a picture. I HAD to get a little higher so I got up on the rock . . .
Due to the weather, we were the only people on the trail.
This is the view from the top, looking down at the Petit Jean Valley and river, more than 2,000 feet below us. You can see the sun peeking out in the valley.
After driving to and exploring the park for several hours, we got back on the road to Little Rock. Our GPS got confused leading us to our campground and we went about 30 miles out of the way, down a very narrow and winding road into the bush . . in the dark. About halfway down this road (go figure) we deduced we were probably not heading towards the “Downtown RV Park” on the river and backtracked. We did make it to downtown Little Rock by 8:00 and set up in the dark for the evening.
The sun was (almost) out this morning so we made the trip across the bridge to the William Clinton Presidential Center, which contains his Library, National Archives and Park. The building is facing the Arkansas river as Bill requested, and it is shaped like a bridge, symbolic as a “Bridge to the Future” . . .
Cathy sitting in the re-created White House Cabinet room. She picked her seat at random and darn if it was that of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, who, BTW, is now our Governor Sonny Perdue, under the new Trump administration.
Sorry, I had to up the ante . . this is the seat of the President.
We did spend some time in this full-scale replica of the Oval Office (dimensionally off by .25 inch to be precise), talking with the docent. He was extremely knowledgeable of the details concerning this office and the changes that Obama and Trump have made. Trump actually used the set of gold drapes behind the desk, which replaced red drapes that Obama had installed. The desk is the re-created Resolute Desk (no, they would not let me sit at it) and the modesty panel was installed for FDR. I did notice the carved eagle on the modesty panel was facing the “wrong way” and he offered that was a mistake by FDR, (the eagle should be facing the bundle of thirteen arrows in the left talon, not the olive branches in the right talon).
He also explained the reasons for the choices in the hanging pictures, and we went through the books (mostly history and biographies including Washington, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, FDR and Henry Clay). Bill Clinton had some pretty good choices in reading material.
We discussed the evolution/sourcing of the furniture, starting with run of the mill department store furniture, the Kennedys refurnished the office with period and/or historical furniture, as it was “The Peoples Palace” according to Jackie. He explained that the computer port on the back of the desk telephone was to allow for recording of all calls and conversations. There were a lot of buttons on the phone, but none were identified. There was also a second telephone on the table next to one of the sofas. There was an “intruder alert” warning light visible on the desk top but we were told that Secret Service agents would take control before the president would have time to react. It was amazing how much time the docent devoted to us . . . he really enjoyed what he was doing.
There was a lot of detail in the library, similar to what we saw in the Gerald Ford Library. I think this is much more interesting than “stuff”, it is always better to explain when, where and why. The bottom floor had a timeline with details of his presidency by date and the second floor contains the “stuff” (gifts, awards, etc.) but is well documented and interesting.
This is the view from the second floor of the library, looking away from the river, into the park.
This 1893 railroad bridge, the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, was restored and is now used as a walking/bicycle path from North Little Rock to the Library and Park. It is symbolic of a “Bridge to the Past”. You can almost see our motor home to the left of the bridge, across the river.
Next stop was the “Old State House”, built in 1833 in the Greek Revival style, it is the oldest standing state capital building west of the Mississippi. Inside there was a museum and multiple displays, including Arkansas First Families, First Ladies Gowns and the original 1836 House Chamber. This was also the site for Bill Clinton’s election-night celebrations in 1992 and 1996.
Cathy going in . .
This is a pair of shoes that Bill Clinton used while he was campaigning for President. Now I know why I don’t like New Balance . . and stick with Brooks running shoes. (haha)
This is the inside of the 1836 House of Representatives Chamber (restored). Notice the star count on the flag:
It seems like I am sitting at lot of desks today, maybe I am just tired? This desk was used by Mike Huckabee, Bill Clinton and several other governors of the state. There was a continuous screening of past governors rolling on the screen behind me.
This is Little Rock Central High School, scene of the 1957 encounter between the “Little Rock Nine” and Orval Faubus, the Arkansas Governor who temporarily blocked the nine from entering the racially segregated school. These nine African-American students, with the help of the now federalized National Guard and troops from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division dispatched by President Dwight Eisenhower, were the first to integrate the school system in Arkansas. These six women and three men were honored by a special White House ceremony in 1999 and presented with the Congressional Gold Medal.
By the time we got to he state capital, it was beginning to rain like crazy. This shot was taken from inside my car as we drove past. We got wet anyway from the downpour but kept the camera and lens dry (for the most part).
Heading back to the motor home for jambalaya and shrimp. Tomorrow we will pack up and move on towards Georgia as the weather is supposed to be raining for the next couple of days. I am glad I did not run the Marathon here on Sunday as it was run in a torrential downpour.
Travelling with the Schinglers 