Explore the history, culture, and creativity of South Arkansas with a trip to two of its most vibrant towns
After spending time in the entertainment industry in California, Darrin Riley—now a curator with the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society—had just returned to his childhood home of El Dorado when he was tapped for his talents as a film and history buff. The organization, called SAHPS for short, had recently acquired a collection of memorabilia from El Dorado native and film historian Michael G. Fitzgerald. That project evolved into Darrin’s current role overseeing the museum’s premier draw, the historic Newton House, as well as monthly temporary exhibits. “We want people’s stories, and it’s not always about the oil barons and the huge mercantile owners,” he says. “And that’s really kind of where we run within our galleries—searching out those stories from all the families that created the community.”
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