A part of the facility’s commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, this exhibit compares the romanticized idea of the “Old South” with the often gruesome reality of life as it really was for many Arkansans from 1861-1865. Reel to Real: Gone with the Wind and the Civil War in Arkansas pairs up rarely seen items from GWTW with actual objects and firsthand accounts of the monumental battle in Arkansas.
The Shaw-Tumblin Gone with the Wind Collection (Reel) is fascinating for everyone; from those who love movies to those whose interest is history. You enter into the film world of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler via costumes, photos and movie outtakes. The exhibit explores the influence of movies on the perspectives and attitudes of the public.
The Real portion portrays the true nature of the conflict with Arkansas slave narratives, women’s diaries, letters home from soldiers as well as uniforms and weaponry, all from the museum’s permanent collection. It brings the realities of war to life, with the words, stories and songs of those who endured the ordeal of war in Arkansas.
Time is running out; the exhibit ends April 30.
Been to this Shaw-Tumblin Gone With The Wind Exhibit twice now and have enjoyed it each time! Heard rumors that after Little Rock this exhibit will travel (beginning August 31, 2012) to the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. If so, don’t miss it!