Friendly Facts
for Living in the Rogers Area
OUR HISTORY
Provided by the Rogers Historical Museum
NUESTRA HISTORIA
Proporcionado por el Museo Histórico de Rogers
OUR HISTORY
Provided by the Rogers Historical Museum
(479) 621-1154 ◊
www.rogersarkansas.com/museum
Rogers was founded as a stop on the St. Louis and San
Francisco Railroad (the Frisco). In 1880 the Frisco
established a route through the eastern part of Benton
County, bypassing the county seat of Bentonville. B.F.
Sikes, son of pioneer settler Robert Sikes, owned what would
be the original town site of Rogers. He granted the
right-of-way for the railroad tracks, donated a site for the
depot, platted a town, and began to sell lots.
Rogers was named for the general manager of the Frisco,
Captain C.W. Rogers. His wife, Mary, was instrumental in the
formation
of the first church in Rogers. The first train arrived May
10, 1881, and Rogers was incorporated days later. The
population at the time was about 600, but the town grew
quickly due to the influence of the railroad.
Rogers became a shipping point for apples grown on the many
acres of orchards that surrounded the community. Many of the
businessmen were from the Midwest, because the Frisco had
widely advertised the opportunities to be found in towns
along its route. The earliest buildings were wood frame, but
within short time brick buildings were erected along First
and Walnut Streets.
The rich history of Rogers can be seen along the brick-paved
streets of our historic downtown. The downtown commercial
historic district is listed on National Register of Historic
Places, and is one of Arkansas’ original Street districts.
The Main Street program works to promote historic
preservation and economic vitality in historic downtowns.
There are many handsome buildings and interesting businesses
in the historic downtown. There also are two museums.
The Daisy Airgun Museum at 202 Street chronicles the amazing
history of this American icon, which still claims Rogers as
its home. The Rogers Historical Museum presents the of the
area through tours of the 1895 Hawkins House, exhibits, and
programs for the entire family.
Not far from downtown Rogers is the location of the very
first Wal-Mart at the northeast corner of Walnut and Eighth
Streets. Just ten miles northeast of Rogers on U.S.
Highway 62 is the site of the largest Civil War battle west
of the Mississippi. On March 7 and 8, 1862, more than 26,000
troops met there, filling the air with the sound of muskets,
rifles, and artillery. Established in 1960, the Pea Ridge
National Military Park contains 4,278 acres preserving the
entire field of battle.
East of Rogers are the War Eagle Mill and the Hobbs State
Park Conservation Area. The replica of the 1873 War Eagle
Mill preserves the historical significance of the original
grist mill as the hub of the rural community, and still
continues to grind grains for the daily table. The Hobbs
State Park-Conservation Area encompasses over 11,000 acres,
including the site of the home and lumber mill of Peter Van
Winkle. Van Winkle
was one of the great entrepreneurs of mid 19th-century
Arkansas. Lumber from his mill was used to build Old
Main at the University of Arkansas, as well as much of
Rogers, Eureka Springs, and other nearby communities.
The story of Rogers is not complete without mention of
Beaver Lake. The United States Army Corps of Engineers began
the damming of the White River in 1960 as a flood control
measure, and to provide water and electricity to the area.
The project was completed in 1966, and by 1968 Beaver Lake
was a major recreational center offering fishing, boating,
camping, hiking, swimming, and water skiing to visitors.
NUESTRA HISTORIA
Proporcionado por el Museo Histórico de Rogers
(479) 621-1154 ◊
www.rogersarkansas.com/museum
Rogers se estableció como una estación entre las líneas del
Ferrocarril de San Luis y San Francisco (“el Frisco”) a
través del Noroeste de Arkansas. En 1880 el Tren Frisco
estableció una ruta a través de la parte este del Condado de
Benton, desviándose del centro del condado. B.E. Sikes, hijo
del Pionero Robert Sikes, el cual era el dueño del sitio
original de lo que sería la ciudad de Rogers. Sikes cedió
derechos para las vías del ferrocarril, donó un lugar para
la estación, planeó la ciudad y comenzó a vender terrenos.
Rogers fue nombrada en honor al director general del Frisco,
el capitán C.W. Rogers. Su esposa, Mary, contribuyó en la
fundación de la primera iglesia en Rogers.
El primer tren llegó el 10 de marzo de 1881 e incorporaron
la ciudad de Rogers 18 días después. La población de Rogers
en ese entonces era aproximadamente de 600 personas, pero la
ciudad creció rápidamente debido a la influencia del
ferrocarril.
La rica historia de Rogers se puede apreciar a lo larg de su
Historic Downtown (Centro Histórico). El distrito central de
Rogers es nombrada en el Registro Nacional de Lugares
Históricos (National Register of Historic Places), al otro
lado se encuentra el Museo de Armas Daisy, que todavía
considera a Rogers como su hogar. El Museo Histórico
de Rogers presenta la historia de Rogers por medio de
exhibiciones en la Casa
Hawkins con programas para toda la familia. No lejos del
centro histórico se encuentra Shelby Lane Antiques
Mall, donde se ubicó la primera tienda Wal-Mart.
Las arboledas que rodean el área también cuentan una
historia. Sólo a diez millas al noroeste de Rogers en la
U.S. Carretera 62 se ubica el sitio donde se peleó la
batalla más grande de la Guerra Civil al oeste del
Mississippi, la batalla de Pea Ridge. El 7 de marzo de 1862,
más de 26,000 tropas llenaron el aire con el sonido de
cañones y artillería. Establecido en 1960, el Parque Militar
de Pea Ridge tiene 4,278 acres, preservando
completamente el campo de batalla.
Al este de la Carretera 12, los visitantes frecuentan el
Molino de War Eagle. El Molino, construido en 1873, guarda
el significado histórico del primer molino que es la cuna de
la comunidad rural y que todavía sigue moliendo granos para
nuestras mesas.
La historia de Rogers no está completa sin mencionar el Lago
Beaver. El Cuerpo de Ingenieros de las Fuerzas Armadas de
los EE. UU. comenzó a construir una represa en el Río Blanco
en 1960 como una medida para el control de inundación y para
proporcionar agua y electricidad a ésta área. El proyecto
fue terminado en 1966. Para 1968 el lago Beaver ya era un
centro recreacional importante que ofrecía a sus visitantes
lugares para acampar, pescar, excursionar, nadar, y
practicar canotaje y esquí acuático. |
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