Phillips County Historical Society Inc

THE PHILLIPS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HELPS RUN AND MAINTAIN THE FORT BISSELL MUSEUM IN PHILLIPSBURG. THE MUSEUM IS RAN FROM MEMORIAL WEEKEND TO LABOR DAY WEEKEND. DURING THE 2021 SEASON THERE WERE 542 VISITORS FROM 23 DIFFERENT STATES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 7 BUILDINGS AT FORT BISSELL MUSEUM. WITH EXTRA GRANT MONEY FORT BISSELL IS BUILDING A NEW CHURCH TO ADD ANOTHER HISTORICAL PHILLIPS COUNTY BUILDING TO THE MUSEUM. GENERAL TOURS ARE GIVEN AND MORE HISTORY IS SHARED ABOUT PHILLIPS COUNTY DURING THE TOURS. THE TOURS CAN BE SELF-GUIDED OR A PHYSICAL TOURGUIDE IS PROVIDED. A FEW SPECIAL WORKSHOPS WERE HELD ON FRIDAYS FOR THE LOCAL CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 10. THE WORKSHOPS INVOLVED DIFFERENT CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PIONEER HISTORY THAT THE FORT BISSELL MUSEUM SHOWCASES. DURING 2021 THERE WERE THREE DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS HELD AND 54 CHILDREN WERE IN ATTENDANCE. THE ACTIVITIES WERE DECORATING CUPCAKES FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, A SCAVENGER HUNT THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM AND MAKING NATIVE AMERICAN HEADBANDS AND JEWELRY. AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SEASON THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE MUSEUM HOSTS SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. IN 2021 THERE WERE 179 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FROM 5 SURROUNDING SCHOOLS THAT ATTENDED THESE SCHOOL TRIPS. OTHER THAN TAKING THEM THROUGH THE FORT EXTRA TIME IS SPENT IN OUR CRITTER CABIN AND AT OUR BLACKSMITH SHOP. IN THE CRITTER CABIN THE CHILDREN ARE SHOWN ALL OF THE FURS AND SKILLS OF THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE IN PHILLIPS COUNTY. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TOUCH AND HANDLE THE FURS. THE BLACKSMITH DOES A LIVE DEMONSTRATION FOR THE CHILDREN BY HEATING AN IRON TO RED HOT IN THE FORGE AND SHAPING IT ON THE ANVIL AND IN THE VICE.