Not quite a native Ripley Countian - she attended only her last year of high school in Doniphan though she taught in the R-1 system for 32 years - Teresa (Pearson) Lee delights in surprising readers and herself with anecdotal observations of life in general. Maybe you can blame her St.Louis roots for a quirky humor and some slightly-askewed opinions, but never doubt she writes from the heart.

Current River Heritage Museum

Posted Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 9:06 AM

(For May 18, 2022)

Believe it or not, Ripley County has a museum worth celebrating on International Museum Day this 18th of May. (Yep, we really do have one, like there really is a VFW and we actually have designated fairgrounds).

Randy Maness entered the chosen moniker in a museum-naming contest sponsored by the Doniphan Neighborhood Assistance Program. DNAP, founded in 1988, is barely older than Current River Heritage Museum, which opened its doors on Saturday, May 25 of Memorial Day weekend in 1991 as the second of three projects approved for state tax credits. The first was the demolition of buildings in the downtown triangle that is now Heritage Park. The establishment of Pioneer Heritage Homestead, completed in 1997, was the third and is considered part of the museum.

Four part-time curators preceded Julie Braschler, the museum’s current director: Jerry Ponder, Nick Hatch, Don Phillips and Lynn Maples. A cheese-cutter, purchased by Lester and Lenore Wright from the Gatewood Store that closed mid-twentieth century, was the first donated item. Volunteers pitched in to collect and arrange other items featured in the two galleries.

The street-level gallery is devoted to Current River, Native American artifacts and the timber industry. The three-roomed gallery on the lower level features items related to early life in Ripley County, team and individual sports, and the area’s military history. “Happy is the person who cherishes the precious lessons of the past and lives vigorously in the present.” Jerome Hines

Thanks to the continued contribution of volunteers, the museum at 101 Washington Street (on a corner opposite The Prospect-News in front of the courthouse) opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday and closes at 4 p.m. except Saturdays when it stays open until noon. The museum houses a gift shop highlighting the skills of local crafters. The Ripley County Chamber of Commerce utilizes the office space. Admission is free though donations are gladly accepted and appreciated.

Make the time to visit! “Museums are only boring if you’re boring.” (Unknown)