FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC

CONWAY, AR

Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historic Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Lake in Conway, Texas. The bridge is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss. The bridge was originally erected in 1874 by the King Bridge Company (King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio) on the Springfield-Des Arc Road over North Cadron Creek. It was relocated to Beaverfork Park in Conway in 1996 and has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge in Beaverfork Park. Conway County, Arkansas awarded the King Bridge Company a contract for the bridge in 1871. However, in 1873 the Arkansas Legislature divided Conway County creating Faulkner County with the creek as the new county line. The bridge was installed in 1874 with Conway County and the new Faulkner County splitting the cost. The Springfield Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88000660). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER-AR-32 as the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge)
Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Credit: cmh2315fl

The Faulkner County Museum Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Faulkner County, Arkansas. The Foundation was established in 1995 and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of the county. The museum is housed in the historic old courthouse in downtown Conway, Arkansas.

The Foundation is committed to preserving the artifacts, documents, photographs, and other items that tell the stories of the people, places and events that shaped Faulkner County. Through the museum and its programs, the Foundation strives to provide an educational experience to the citizens of Faulkner County, and visitors alike.

The Faulkner County Museum of History is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free and the museum offers guided tours, interactive displays and special events throughout the year. The museum also houses a research library, with a large collection of oral histories, photographs, maps, and other documents.

The Foundation also sponsors and participates in various outreach and educational programs throughout the county. These programs include lectures, workshops, and special events, such as the annual Faulkner County Heritage Festival. The mission of the Foundation is to foster an appreciation for the county’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Through its programs, exhibits, and collections, the Foundation hopes to inspire a sense of pride, understanding, and appreciation for Faulkner County’s past.

FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC is a Uncategorized or General Museum in CONWAY AR. US MID #8400500310

The museum is classed as GMU (Uncategorized or General Museums). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Southeastern (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia).

Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historic Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Lake in Conway, Texas. The bridge is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss. The bridge was originally erected in 1874 by the King Bridge Company (King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio) on the Springfield-Des Arc Road over North Cadron Creek. It was relocated to Beaverfork Park in Conway in 1996 and has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge in Beaverfork Park. Conway County, Arkansas awarded the King Bridge Company a contract for the bridge in 1871. However, in 1873 the Arkansas Legislature divided Conway County creating Faulkner County with the creek as the new county line. The bridge was installed in 1874 with Conway County and the new Faulkner County splitting the cost. The Springfield Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88000660). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER-AR-32 as the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge)
Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historical marker for the Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Park Lake in Conway, Texas. The sign states: Preserving the Springfield Bridge This bridge has been subject to the challenges of time and nature. Floods have periodically ravaged the bridge. On May 25, 1882 the Arkansas Gazette reported flooding on the Cadron: At the iron bridge it was more than a mile wide, and deep enough to sweep over the floor of the bridge. In the great flood of 1927, cables were attached to the bridge and tied to large trees to keep the bridge from washing away. In December of 1982 the bridge was damaged when it was again submerged by floodwaters. But people knew the bridge was something special. In 1988, Guy W. Murphy and the Faulkner County Historical Society were instrumental in getting the Springfield Bridge added to the National Register of Historic Places. When the bridge was replaced in 1991, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department painted and re-decked the bridge and erected barriers to prevent vehicle traffic. A dedication as a historic park took place in July 1992, and iron plaques were placed at each end of the bridge. Sadly, the bridge quickly decayed. Vandals tagged the abutments with spray paint and damaged the bridge with fires. The iron plaques were stolen. The eastern stone abutment began to crack, and erosion threatened the western side. The Springfield Bridge was about to be lost. Then, in 2011, Workin' Bridges of Grinnell, Iowa, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic iron bridges, began discussions with local officials about rescuing the Springfield Bridge. Plans were made to restore the bridge to its original condition and relocate the bridge here, at Beaverfork Park, where it has police protection and can be seen and enjoyed by the public. Moving a 146-foot iron bridge is no small task. Under the direction of Workin' Bridges, two cranes lifted the bridge then lowered it to the nearby ground. There, iron-workers took it apart so it could be transported by truck to North Little Rock for cleaning and refinishing. The pieces were then trucked to Beaverfork Park where technicians reassembled it. New caissons were built, stones from the original abutments were incorporated into the approaches, and a railing was added. Finally, a crane lifted the bridge to its new home, here, over Lake Beaverfork.
Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historical marker for the Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Park Lake in Conway, Texas. The sign states: The Story of The Springfield Bridge The Springfield Bridge is one of the oldest surviving bridges of its type in the United States and is the oldest bridge in Arkansas. The Springfield Bridge was erected in 1874 across North Cadron Creek, three miles east of Springfield on the Springfield-Des Arc Road. Between 1850 and 1873 the road connected Des Arc, a thriving steamboat port on the White River, with Springfield, the county seat of Conway County. But crossing the Cadron was a problem. Before the bridge, C. A. Simmons operated a ferry, charging 5c for a man on foot, I5c for a man on horseback, and 75c for a two-horse spring carriage. On November 8, 1871, Conway County awarded the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio a contract for a wrought iron bridge. The company built the bridge at its ironworks in Iola, Kansas. In 1872 the bridge was shipped to Lewisburg (near today 's Morrilton), but erection of the bridge came to a sudden halt when the 1873 state legislature divided Conway County, creating Faulkner County from the part of Conway County east of North Cadron Creek. The stream became the county line and the bridge waiting in Lewisburg would now be part of two counties. Conway County filed suit against the new Faulkner County to recover half of the cost of the bridge. Knowing the value of the Springfield to Des Arc Road, Faulkner County agreed, and work began. The bridge opened in July of I874. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. In 1991, after 117 years of service, this elegant, gently arched iron bridge was replaced by a concrete bridge a short distance upstream.
Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historic Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Lake in Conway, Texas. The bridge is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss. The bridge was originally erected in 1874 by the King Bridge Company (King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio) on the Springfield-Des Arc Road over North Cadron Creek. It was relocated to Beaverfork Park in Conway in 1996 and has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge in Beaverfork Park. Conway County, Arkansas awarded the King Bridge Company a contract for the bridge in 1871. However, in 1873 the Arkansas Legislature divided Conway County creating Faulkner County with the creek as the new county line. The bridge was installed in 1874 with Conway County and the new Faulkner County splitting the cost. The Springfield Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88000660). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER-AR-32 as the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge)
Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historic Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Lake in Conway, Texas. The bridge is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss. The bridge was originally erected in 1874 by the King Bridge Company (King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio) on the Springfield-Des Arc Road over North Cadron Creek. It was relocated to Beaverfork Park in Conway in 1996 and has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge in Beaverfork Park. Conway County, Arkansas awarded the King Bridge Company a contract for the bridge in 1871. However, in 1873 the Arkansas Legislature divided Conway County creating Faulkner County with the creek as the new county line. The bridge was installed in 1874 with Conway County and the new Faulkner County splitting the cost. The Springfield Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88000660). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER-AR-32 as the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge)
Fog and ice on Rosenbaum Lake. Maumelle, Arkansas. 2024.
Dragon's Egg in Winter. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2024.
Maumelle Pinnacles. Pulaski County, Arkansas. 2023.
Clouded Moon over Rattlesnake Ridge. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2023.
Leaf on shale. Natural Steps, Arkansas. 2023.
Black vulture sunset. Rattlesnake Ridge, Arkansas. 2023.
Springfield Bridge – Beaverfork Park (Faulkner County, Arkansas) Historic Springfield Bridge over Beaverfork Lake in Conway, Texas. The bridge is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss. The bridge was originally erected in 1874 by the King Bridge Company (King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio) on the Springfield-Des Arc Road over North Cadron Creek. It was relocated to Beaverfork Park in Conway in 1996 and has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge in Beaverfork Park. Conway County, Arkansas awarded the King Bridge Company a contract for the bridge in 1871. However, in 1873 the Arkansas Legislature divided Conway County creating Faulkner County with the creek as the new county line. The bridge was installed in 1874 with Conway County and the new Faulkner County splitting the cost. The Springfield Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88000660). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER-AR-32 as the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge)

Contact FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC

FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC
PO BOX 2442
CONWAY
AR
72033-7203

Disclaimer: please note this database is maintained by volunteers and whilst we endeavour to do our best, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listing.

If you notice any errors or omissions in the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

< AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE >

Find more CONWAY AR Museums

What 3 Words

///begin.hours.horses. Near Conway, Arkansas

Nearby Museums

AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC HENDRIX COLLEGE FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM

Map of FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC

FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC Information

MID # 8400500310
Name FAULKNER COUNTY MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC
Alternate Name
Classification Uncategorized or General Museums, , Southeastern
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) 943427145
NTEECC
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)
INCOME 0
REVENUE 0
LAT/LONG 35.08939, -92.44039
CODES FIPS State Code: 05
FIPS County Code: 045
US Census Tract: 030702
US Census Block: 2020