The Desha County Museum was founded in 1979 and opened during the City of Dumas’ 75th anniversary celebration. The museum was established when a single building was erected with an American Bicentennial federal grant, Desha County grant and grants from Dumas civic organizations. The museum property was given by the Dante and Tanenbaum families.
A member of the Arkansas Museums Association, Desha County Museum also conducts special tours and activities for the summer festival, Christmas and Arkansas Heritage Week, and has booths in the Delta Arts and Crafts Fair and Merchants Fair.
The Terry Log House, two-story with a “dog-trot” hall, was erected of 18 inch-wide cypress logs on a site along Oakwood Bayou in the late 1840’s. It was the home of Mrs. Annie Mitchell and her brother, Sam Terry and family, early settlers of Desha County. Among the other buildings on the log farmstead are a blacksmith shop (pictured below left), kitchen (pictured below right), potato house and dog house, all of which came from the area. Authentic furnishings are in the historic buildings. Mrs. Jesse Kennedy gave the historical structures to the museum.
The
commissary, or plantation store, was relocated from the Johnnie Poole farm west
of Dumas. It is furnished with items from the early 20th century. (pictured
left)
A 1950’s structure, donated by Andrew Pickens, houses a collection of early medical, dental and optometry equipment.
The agricultural building, named in memory of Mayor Billy Free who supported the museum effort, was erected with donations from organizations and individuals and was completed in 1985. Housed in the Billy Free Agricultural Building are antique farm tools and equipment, early household items, and a collection of industrial equipment manufactured in Dumas. Preserved in one space in the building is the original equipment from the Arkansas City Post Office. Other special displays focus on Indian artifacts collected in Southeast Arkansas, and items collected from the railroad history of Desha County. Visiting exhibits often are housed in this building.
In 1993, the Veterans Memorial was built with contributions from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and businesses and individuals of the county. It was built to honor the veterans of Desha County during the twentieth century. A service is held here each year on Memorial Day weekend.
