5 Little Rock and to Jackson MS

Day 5 - We started our day in Little Rock, with a stop at the Visitors’ Center. It was an old 1852 restored home, complete with furnishings from that period. The person working there was a very attractive older woman, who grew up in Little Rock, knew a lot about it and was more than willing to share. She started high school at Central High School the year it re-opened. (It had been closed for a year after the attempt to integrate it). She said that she supported integration, though she never actively did anything to support it, about which she always felt guilty. She gave us wonderful tips of things to do in Little Rock.

When asked how Bill Clinton was liked in the city, she said that everyone loved him. She related that one time, many years ago when Bill came to town, her friend was driving him around and took him to a bar where she and her friends were drinking. The driver-friend introduced Bill to her. She said that when she shook Bill’s hand electricity went through her. She also claimed that other people had reported similar experiences. She said that he was charismatic, and also hinted that he may have hit on her.

When asked how Hillary was liked in the area, she said that no one liked Hillary in Little Rock. During Hillary’s time in Little Rock, the woman claimed that Hillary made no attempts to make friends there. So much for Little Rock gossip!

So off we went. First stop was the Old Mill, a replica of sorts, just 15 minutes outside of town, and on the shores of a large lake situated in a lovely suburban neighborhood. While this never was an active mill, it was absolutely beautiful and idyllic, and was used in the famous movie, "Gone With the Wind".

Next stop, the Clinton Library. It is a long, modern building which appears to be floating in the sky. It’s length comes from its design containing long aisles between the stacks, to replicate the long hallways at Oxford which Bill loved, while there on his Fullbright. The front of the museum was guarded by large automated dinosaurs, part of a special show at the Museum. Our time in the museum began by watching a movie about Bill Clinton’s presidency. Then we toured a replica of the oval office and the cabinet room. There were many displays filled with gifts, papers and records of his achievements. We were struck by how much he had accomplished during his term in the White House. We were also amazed at how much Hillary had achieved during her time as First Lady.

We walked on the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge – formerly the Rock Island Centennial Bridge – a pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River, right next to the Clinton Museum. This bridge was made a part of the Clinton Museum and Park in 2010. The bridge's "rusty" structure also includes a well-lit 12-18-foot walkway with silver galvanized steel handrails. This contrast reflects the past and the present, the old and the new. Much of the path across the bridge contains engraved names of donors who contributed to the bridge renovation project. From this vantage point, we had beautiful views up and down the Mississippi. Near bye to the museum is the Clinton School of Public Policy. A little further away from the Library there is a hip area of shops and restaurants along the river. However, we didn’t investigate, as we wanted to see a very important site of the Civil Rights Movement.

Our last stop was at Little Rock Central High School which continues to be an operational. School had already let out when we arrived, but some students lingered around for sports and band practice in the back. The huge school mostly made of yellow brick, reminded us of Pittsburgh, and is 1.5 to 2 times larger than Allderdice, our kids’ high school. When built, it was named “America’s Most Beautiful High School” and had the capacity for 2000 students.

Little Rock’s most significant contribution to the Civil Rights Movement, a very important event in history, took place at Little Rock Central High School. In 1957, nine black students attempted to integrate the all white school to test Brown v Board of Education 1954. Their entry into the school was truly a walk of courage for those nine students, as many images that surround or aree near the school attest to. In front of the school is a small pond surrounded by statues of the nine students. Across the street from the high school is a commemorative garden, opposite of which is the Visitors Center. Next to this Visitors Center is a gas station (now part of the museum) where the press stationed themselves during the 1957 events at Central High. To complete this part of the day, we next stopped at the State Capital Building, to see a special memorial to the nine students.

Finally, we took a short tour of Little Rock’s Quapaw historic homes area, which includes the oldest homes of the city. Then off to Jackson as the day light was fading into night.

The ride to Jackson took over 4 hours, late on a moonless night, down narrow highways, dark farm roads, and across the Mississippi through the delta. Too bad it was at night. Missed some great imagery.