Calico Rock Museum
Economic Center
Calico Rock was a major force in the
economic development of the region.
Folks living in more rural areas would
bring livestock, timber, cotton, and
other commodities to the landing at
Calico Creek to barter and trade.
When the steamboats began traveling
up and down the river, merchants
traveled from all around to barter,
trade and buy goods to be sold in their
shops in towns dotting the
countryside. The Home was a
steamboat built at Calico Rock.
Electric power was generated in Calico
Rock long before rural electric
cooperatives came along. An ice
plant, tractor dealership, movie
theatre, cattle processing plants,
lumber mills, and other industries and
businesses once powered our
community. John Grisham recognized
the impact of the cotton gin in Calico
Rock in his book The Painted House.
The White River brought fishing,
hunting and tourism to play when
industry faltered.
Calico Rock is the story of America as
we’ve struggled to shift from an
agricultural society to an industrialized
nation and in the shift to a service
economy. The museum will tell this
story and how the struggle through
economic changes has forged a
change in our people and community.
economic development of the region.
Folks living in more rural areas would
bring livestock, timber, cotton, and
other commodities to the landing at
Calico Creek to barter and trade.
When the steamboats began traveling
up and down the river, merchants
traveled from all around to barter,
trade and buy goods to be sold in their
shops in towns dotting the
countryside. The Home was a
steamboat built at Calico Rock.
Electric power was generated in Calico
Rock long before rural electric
cooperatives came along. An ice
plant, tractor dealership, movie
theatre, cattle processing plants,
lumber mills, and other industries and
businesses once powered our
community. John Grisham recognized
the impact of the cotton gin in Calico
Rock in his book The Painted House.
The White River brought fishing,
hunting and tourism to play when
industry faltered.
Calico Rock is the story of America as
we’ve struggled to shift from an
agricultural society to an industrialized
nation and in the shift to a service
economy. The museum will tell this
story and how the struggle through
economic changes has forged a
change in our people and community.
| Copyright 2009, Calico Rock Museum Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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