Season 1, Episode 16

Amy Staten McNeil

LA needed a museum, Amy McNeil made it happen

"Older things are fascinating to me," Amy Staten McNeil told me when I asked how it came to be that we now have a museum in Magnolia. Amy is the brainchild behind the South Arkansas Heritage Museum, where she also serves as founder and chairman of the board. The museum was incorporated in 2016 as a non-profit corporation, but it didn't have a home until April 10, 2019 when the deed to the Henry Longino House was signed over from its donor.

The house is located at 317 West Main in Magnolia and is open to the public on Wednesdays (except holidays) from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.  Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of tasks, including serving as tour guides. We had the opportunity to watch a tour come through while recording this podcast. The museum can also accommodate small groups who would be interested in touring together. Its mission is to preserve and protect local history.

Both the museum and the house are interesting in themselves. I was surprised to learn the house only had two previous owners. Some of the artifacts housed there are truly fascinating, such as an old time clock made from cast iron and must have weighed several hundred pounds. Did you know that baskets can be made from pine straw? But perhaps the most intriguing artifact is the artificial leg--who did it belong to, where was it found, how old is it? So many questions!

The museum has a Facebook page with more information, including the museum store where you can purchase your "I Heart L.A." t-shirt, pine straw baskets and original artwork by Dona Furr.

Take a listen to today's interview with Amy and you'll want to visit the museum. Check the FB page to plan your visit and discover one of the things that makes life in LA so fascinating!