LITTLE ROCK—Preserve Arkansas, the statewide nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Arkansas’s historic places, in partnership with the Arkansas Humanities Council, Arkansas Archeological Survey, University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Preservation of African American Cemeteries, the Arkansas Historical Association, and Kudzu Collective, is proud to present “Behind the Big House” on February 9-10, 2024, at UAM’s Taylor House, 184 Plantation Lane, Tillar, Arkansas.
Behind the Big House looks beyond the “Big Houses,” or stately antebellum homes, to learn about the experiences of enslaved people, with the goals of raising awareness of this often-understudied part of our past and improving the quality of interpretation at historic sites and museums. UAM’s Taylor House served as one such “big house” on the Hollywood/Valley Plantation, which once spanned more than 10,000 acres across Desha, Drew, and Lincoln counties. The 2024 program will highlight the importance of involving descendant communities in site interpretation, foodways, and new archeological research from Hollywood and Valley Plantation sites.
Day One (Feb. 9) includes opportunities to learn about archeology, genealogy, and traditional foodways, as well as recognition of Hollywood/Valley Plantation descendants, a lecture by Montpelier Descendants Committee Founder James French, and a Fireside Chat with Joseph McGill and Herb Frazier of the Slave Dwelling Project. Day Two (Feb. 10) features lectures about plantation archeology and best practices for interpreting slavery at historic sites and museums. For a complete schedule of experiences and speakers, please visit https://bit.ly/BTBH2024.
Behind the Big House is free and open to the public. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Preserve Arkansas works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. For more information, call 501-372-4757, email rpatton@preservearkansas.org, or visit www.preservearkansas.org.
