SPRINGDALE. — In honor of National Apple Month, the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History will present "Apples in the Ozarks," featuring Dr. Curt Rom, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30.
As part of Shiloh’s Not Strictly History series, Rom, University Professor of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas, will share insights from his lifelong experience living in the Arkansas Ozarks.
Raised in Fayetteville, Rom grew up selling apples from the Rom Family Orchard. He is an advocate for local food culture and sustainable farming practices. As a professor, he emphasizes sustainable and organic food production systems, focusing on small-scale farming and the rich agricultural heritage of the region.
This event is free and open to the public, with both in-person and online attendance options. For details and to register to view online, visit https://shilohmuseum.org/museum-events/apples-in-the-ozarks/.
***
Carolyn Reno retires from Shiloh Museum after 40 Years
SPRINGDALE – Carolyn Reno, assistant director and collections manager with the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, has retired after 40 years of service.
Reno began working for the museum in March 1984 as registrar with the responsibility of taking care of the records, storage and conservation of the museum's artifact collections among other duties. She saw the collection grow to more than 550,000 objects during her 40-year career and, in 1991, helped oversee the museum's relocation from the old Springdale Public Library building when it was replaced with the facility that stands today in its place.
Reno's accomplishments while at Shiloh include receiving the Arkansas Museum Association's Peg Newton Smith Lifetime Achievement Award this past March and the association's Award of Merit in 1990. The Washington County Historical Society granted her the Distinguished Citizen Award in 2016.
She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Marygrove College in Detroit and attended graduate school at the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at the University of Arkansas.
***
Shiloh Museum’s collections now searchable Online
SPRINGDALE – Shiloh Museum of Ozark History has just made researching its collections much easier by moving its catalog to an online database.
Information about all of the items in Shiloh’s collections is now available through Argus, a museum collections management system. Curator Stephanie Carter led this effort this past spring by moving more than 600,000 catalog entries from several different Access databases to one publicly accessible website. This will enable local researchers, educators, students and the general public to explore the museum’s extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, documents and library reference materials. There is also an option for people to contribute their own information to the museum's existing collections.
Shiloh recently completed digitization of more than 5,000 images from the Washington County Historic Photo collection. Those are now visible in the database, and more digitized photos and artifacts will be added to the database in coming months and years. The database is fairly easy to navigate, but people can request the museum’s collections staff for assistance.
The museum plans to announce workshops on how to use the collections database for research and tutorials in 2025.
To access the database, visit https://shilohmuseum.org/online-collections-access/.
***
Shiloh presents symbols and Native American School programs
SPRINGDALE – The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History will present student programs about Arkansas' symbols and the state's Native American history and culture in October and November
Arkansas Symbols Day will take place throughout the day Oct. 11 with 90-minute sessions on the museum grounds. Interactive stations will enable students to learn about Arkansas' history through its symbols with activities and take-home items. For details and to register, visit https://shilohmuseum.org/museum-events/arkansas-symbols-day-school-program/.
In recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, Shiloh will, once again, partner with the Arkansas Archeological Survey in a virtual program involving about 20 presenters for Native American Days on Nov. 21-22. For details and to register, visit https://shilohmuseum.org/museum-events/native-american-days-school-program/.
In addition to these events, the Shiloh Museum offers up to two $300 field trip reimbursement stipends per year for qualifying Title 1 public schools in Benton, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Madison and Washington counties. This initiative aims to enhance educational experiences and ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage with our community's history. To learn more, visit https://shilohmuseum.org/field-trip-fund/.
***
The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a regional history museum that serves the public by providing resources for finding meaning, enjoyment, and inspiration in the exploration of the Arkansas Ozarks. Along with exhibits, visitors can explore seven historic buildings on the museum grounds. The museum also has a research library with a collection of more than 500,000 photographs of Ozark life. Located at 118 W. Johnson Ave., Springdale, the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. Learn more at ShilohMuseum.org or by calling (479) 750-8165.
