April Programs at Shiloh Museum

The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale is a little gem of a museum offering not only the preservation of the past but many wonderful programs as well. During April, topics will range from photography to frog listening, to classic eateries.

Here’s a list of the events you don’t want to miss:

Arkansas Photography

Author and photographer Chris Engholm will present a multimedia program entitled “Hugo and Gayne Preller’s House of Light,” Saturday, April 5 at 1:00 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. The program will feature historic images of life along the White River in the Arkansas Delta from the early to mid-1900s.

“Hugo Preller was a German photographer, painter, watchmaker, and gunsmith. His wife, Gayne [say GAY-nee], was a Kentucky merchant’s daughter and one of the earliest female commercial photographers in the South,” explained Engholm. “In the late 1800s, Hugo and Gayne built a houseboat and ‘floating photography studio.’ They traveled down the Mississippi River, docking at towns for weeks as Hugo repaired guns and clocks, and as both he and Gayne took pictures of people and places along the river. The Prellers eventually settled in the east Arkansas town of Augusta, where they continued their work as photographers until 1950,” said Engholm.

Frog Listening Workshop
Tom Krohn, Arkansas regional coordinator for Frog Watch USA, will conduct a frog listening workshop Tuesday, April 8, and Tuesday, April 15 from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program that invites individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads.

The April 8 session will focus on how to identify frogs and toads by their calls. Participants will also learn about the role of frogs and toads in our ecosystem. The April 15 session will be an introduction to wetlands ecology and a discussion of volunteer opportunities with FrogWatch USA.

The workshop is free, but preregistration by April 5 is encouraged as seating is limited. To preregister or for more information, call 479-750-8165 or email [email protected].

Donald Harington Documentary
A screening of Stay More: The World of Donald Harington, a feature-length documentary by filmmaker Brian Walter on novelist Donald Harington, will be shown Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Walter will discuss the making of Stay More prior to the screening.

History of Tobacco Advertising

Brenda Patterson, coordinator for tobacco prevention and education with the Madison County Health Coalition, will discuss the history of tobacco advertising Wednesday, April 16 at noon at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.

Ozark and River Valley Eateries

Kat Robinson, author of Classic Eateries of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley, will present a program and book signing Saturday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Robinson will discuss her exploration of over 100 restaurants in the region.

Copies of Classic Eateries will be available for purchase. Cost is $19.99 plus tax. The Shiloh Museum is located at 118 W. Johnson Avenue in downtown Springdale.

For more information on these events or museum exhibits and grounds, call 750-8165 or visit http://www.shilohmuseum.org.