The Original Thirteen Arkansas Rangers at Headquarters
Once Located in the Old State House, 1936,
Old State House Museum Collection. |
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72 years of Arkansas criminal justice history and memorabilia are welcomed to the Old State House Museum as it proudly announces its most recent major acquisition, the Arkansas State Police Collection.
A chapter of Arkansas history began in March, 1935 when Governor J.M. Futrell signed Act 120 into law, creating a state police force. Initially known as the Arkansas Rangers, the state police then consisted of thirteen men who were headquartered in three rooms in the east wing of the Old State House, then known as the War Memorial Building. That little-known aspect of Arkansas’s past doesn’t even begin to hint at the scope of the history and heritage that will now be headquartered at the Old State House Museum with the recent acquisition of the Arkansas State Police Collection. Museum director Bill Gatewood explains, “The Museum will devote considerable resources to maintaining the integrity of these objects and document information that describes their significance. We will also increase public access to them via Museum exhibits, publications, educational programs and a presence on the Old State House Museum’s website. The website is viewed by almost 1,000,000 visitors each year, so the Arkansas State Police collection will receive wide exposure.”
The collection is located at the Old State House Museum through a partnership with the Arkansas State Police Museum. This ensures that artifacts in the collection receive state-of-the-art, museum-quality conservation and care, while also providing the public with access to the collection through special exhibits curated by the museum, educational programs, and the museum’s website.
Several artifacts from the Arkansas State Police collection may be viewed within the Pillars of Power exhibit; many more are currently being featured as part of the museum’s latest exhibit, Badges, Bandits & Bars: Arkansas Law & Justice, now open through March 6, 2011.
Visit the Arkansas State Police website at www.asp.arkansas.gov/.
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