A Little Adventure Close To Home

Pieniny Kuszkowice,
Tatra Mountains, Poland

As promised in yesterday's post I did venture outside my domicile to see what I could find of interest on a Saturday in NLR. I did not have to venture far to begin the journey. Next door to the HoJo is a Holiday Inn Express and just on the other side is the William F. Laman Public Library. The Laman is ensconced on a large campus that slopes up hill from Pershing Blvd with the library sitting at the top of the hill. From Pershing Blvd. you cannot see the small lake that is in the center of the campus with a fountain in the middle. There is a sidewalk around the lake for those who like to walk, jog, skate or bike as well as benches for quiet reflection and a small pavilion that juts out into the lake. The library itself is a white stone structure with a two story semi circular bay window on one corner. Inside you will of course find a wide selection of books, audio recordings and films on VHS tapes andDVD's . There are public access computers and a media services center headed up by my friend RT from Open Door. I found several titles by some of my favorite authors that I had not read so I will definitely have to get me a library card to make use of this facility. In the bay window area of each floor are reading lounges with comfortable chairs spreading from the center of the bay which contains a huge fireplace on each floor. The windows look out over the lake and the surrounding park area. In a small information kiosk on the first floor there are brochures about area attractions and library services. One of the brochures in particular caught my eye. As my regular readers know I am somewhat of a history buff with two periods drawing particular interest, WWII and The Civil War. The brochure that caught my eye was one on The Little Rock Campaign Tour. In 1863 after the fall of Vicksburg in Mississippi, the River was open to the free movement of Union Troops. One of the forays was west along the Arkansas River to capture the Capitol of Arkansas, Little Rock.

The Tour starts in downtown Little Rock on 9th Street at the old US Arsenal pictured above and has eight stops, 7 with interpretive panels and one with a stone monument and ends at the site of a duel fought between Confederate Generals Marmaduke and Walker over their argument about the defense of Little Rock. The Tour is a good day trip that takes you through the countryside around Little Rock on the back roads ending up back in LR andNLR . The site of the actual Battle of Little Rock is The River Market Area adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Center and School for Public Service. As I do not have a car at present, I will have to talk toSG or someone else to plan the trip to locations out of the city. Most of the sites within the River Cites are accessible by public transport, but I would like to see the out of town sites also. The Campaign itself started August of 1863 eventually ending with the capture of Little Rock on September 10th by Union Forces under the command of Major General Frederick Steele with 12,000 troops. On the Map below you can see the major thrusts by the Union Forces during the campaign.

So I did find some adventure not far from home and discovered more to be discovered as I make my way around the area over the course of the next few months. It is amazing what you can find to peak your interest if you just look around your area. I never knew there was so much history to be discovered in this neck of the woods. Just gives me that much more to explore as I make myself to home here in Ozarks. Just below you will find today's eye candy selections for your viewing pleasure. I have to go to work now so I will leave you with them for now and catch you here again tomorrow. Until next time as always, Enjoy!