Old Independence Regional Museum Opens Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit
The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for Old Independence Regional Museum, presenting the Smithsonian Institution's Museum traveling food exhibit "A Taste of Community" on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
The Old Independence Regional Museum has been selected as one of six small museums in the United States to partner with the Smithsonian Institution's Museum on Main Street to present its traveling exhibit centered around food. The exhibit highlights prominent family names and the remarkable history ingrained within our community.
Director Cathy Shonk remarked that with the backing from the community, they could make this museum come to life; without all of their support, this would not have been possible. Various items were donated by Danny Dozier, the Southerland and Barnett families, as well as many others. The exhibit will run through July 31, 2025.
"I have had so much support from everybody. I cannot thank you enough; I welcome you to your exhibit," concluded Mrs. Shonk.
The Old Independence Regional Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission pricing is $5 for Adults, $3 for Seniors 55+ and Military, and $2 for Children and children six years or younger are free.
Ambassadors in attendance included: Aaron Herndon (Citizens Bank), Aaron Moody (Independence County Sheriff's Department), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtors - The Property Shoppe), Amy Finster (White River Health), Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Brenda Rivera (First Community Bank), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Cassidy Mitchell (Lyon College), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Cori Perkey (Southern Bank), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Jesse Freiert (Fringe Salon), Jordan Joslin (Choice Realty), Kendra Collier-McMahan (Approve Home Health and Caring Hands), Lindy Hopper (First Community Bank), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Lucy Rodriguez (George's Inc), Mary Duvall (Bad Boy, Inc), Micah Moody (White River Health), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Peter Rouiler (First Community Bank), Rickie Westbrook (Centennial Bank), Roxanne Rananudo (United Way of North Central AR), Sarah Perkins (Mossy Oak Properties), Sarah Ring (Southern Bank), Seanna Horn (Lyon College), Sijle Antosen (Venture Realty Group), Tammy Jeffrey (First Community Bank), Julie Hinkle (Bank of Cave City), Dana Millikin (White River Now), Justin Russell (Bank of Cave City and Amanda Dickey (Acrisure).
