Harvey Jones was an important businessman in the state of Arkansas. He started a delivery business with a mule team and a wagon when he was 18 years-old, and over the course of a lifetime built the largest trucking company in the country, The Jones Truck Line. He and his wife, Bernice, were community minded and loved supporting children and young families. One of their most well-known gifts to Northwest Arkansas is the Jones Center. I will share more about this wonderful facilty in future posts.
NWA Day Trips. Har-Ber Village: Grove, OK.
The Joneses retired to Grove, Ok on the beautiful Grand Lake. Mrs. Jones decided that it would be nice to have a chapel on their property. This building became the first of 102 displays that now make up Har-Ber Village. A self-guided, open-air museum, the sprawling property faithfully documents pioneer life in the region. Some of the buildings include a one-room school house, a bank, a doctor’s office, a courthouse, a jailhouse, and so much more.
We visited Har-Ber Village a couple weeks ago. Despite our best efforts, we could not see everything! Our kids enjoyed learning about this by-gone period.
Here is a photo-journey of our day:
Map of the grounds
Har-Ber Village Entrance and Visitor Center.
We had the place to ourselves!
For that price, I will take two lunches!
This house was reconstructed from the materials from the Van Winkle house at the Hobbs State Park. See my Spring Break post.
Spring Break post on the Van Winkle Walking Trail.
The beautiful Grand Lake!
This little chapel was the first building on the property. Mrs. Jones thought it would be nice to have a church here.
This little chapel was the first building on the property. Mrs. Jones thought it would be nice to have a church here.
This beautiful sculpture was imported from Italy by the Joneses.
My children found this display most fascinating. They were interested to see what the phones looked like when I was little. The collection ranged from some of the earliest phones to the iPhone.
This was a live demonstration on how to spin wool into yarn. See below for information on taking spinning and weaving classes.
This was a live demonstration on how to spin wool into yarn. See below for information on taking spinning and weaving classes.
Yum! The pie was excellent!
The Back Porch Café.
The Kids’ Zone- This was the only cabin you could go into and touch everything. My kids loved it! Here Sydney is acting like a mannequin. LOL.
The Kids’ Zone- They even got to climb up into the loft like Mary and Laura!
The Kids’ Zone- They even got to climb up into the loft like Mary and Laura!
This is a short timeline of the history of Mr. Jones’s business. What a testament to hard work and the American Dream!
This building was full of dolls throughout time. My son loved this “McDonald’s-Baseball Doll”. I think he could be a doll model…but I am biased. 🙂
My husband told my kids, “This is where old-timey bloggers worked.”
Time-out 🙂
The Courthouse
For more information about hours of operation and directions to Har-Ber Village, visit har-bervillage.com
For more information about The Weaver’s Shop and taking spinning and weaving lessons, visit theweaversshop.com.
This is a part of the #48Walks challenge.
Pin for later:
NWA Day Trips. Har-Ber Village: Grove, OK.
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I am so impressed. I would like this trip.
Mom, We will have to plan some time for you to stay with us and you can do all these trips with us. 🙂
My family would love to visit here! If we’re ever in the neighborhood…
Thanks for sharing!!!
Amanda,
Thanks for dropping by!
This looks like so much fun! We recently moved to NWA from Oregon and this has been on our list for a couple months now. It’s always great to get an idea of what the place looks like before you make the trip. I really appreciate this great post and awesome photos! I’d love for you to come link up at my homemaking party, if you’d like. I found you at MamaBuzz.
Blessings,
Mrs. Sarah Coller
I am going to pop over right now!
Looks like a great trip. I’m pinning for future reference! Tell the kids I like the look of the phones too!
Glad you liked it! If you go, please let me know what you think.
Hi there – I found your blog through #48walks. Looks like you guys had a nice time. Love the picture of all of the phones – sometimes I forget how much things have changed from back in the days when all my phones were attached to the wall with a cord! Cheers – ellen
Right after I got out of college, I got my first cell phone. College campuses look so different now! Thanks for dropping by!
So nice that they had a “DO TOUCH” area. That helps so much. Looks like a ton of fun. Thanks! 🙂
They loved it to! They had a few more “DO TOUCH” areas, but I didn’t get pics of that. There was TOO much to document! 🙂
Loved all the pictures of this place. Would love to go there. The time out picture made me laugh. Ha
Classic, right? Glad you enjoyed!
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You really do find the greatest spots for kids!! Loved this!! 🙂
Thank you! We have a great time! Helps that my husband grew up around here! He remembers going to Har-Ber Village as a field trip for school once.
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