- (a) Since 1975, the Division of Arkansas Heritage has been charged with discovering, strengthening, protecting, and preserving Arkansas's natural and cultural heritage.
(b) To fulfill its mission, the division coordinates the following natural and cultural heritage resource areas:
(1)
- (A) Division museums.
- (B) Museums research, preserve, present, and interpret historic structures, objects, and natural and cultural assets.
- (C) They serve as a partner in education with public and private schools throughout Arkansas.
- (D) The division’s four (4) museums are the:
(i) Delta Cultural Center;
(ii) Historic Arkansas Museum;
(iii) Mosaic Templars of America Center for African American Culture and Business Enterprise; and
- (iv) Old State House Museum; and
(2)
- (A) Division resource agencies.
(B)
- (i) The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission identifies, protects, and promotes areas that best exemplify Arkansas's rich heritage of biological diversity.
- (ii) These areas might be:
- (a) (a) Habitat for rare or disappearing species; or
(b) (b) Natural communities, such as a:
- (1) (1) Tallgrass prairie; or
(2) (2) River and its dependent aquatic system.
(C)
- (i) The Arkansas Arts Council and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program:
- (a) (a) Are conduits for federal and state grant money; and
(b) (b) Provide technical assistance for developing and conserving Arkansas's cultural resources.
(ii) They preserve and promote Arkansas's cultural resources, including Arkansas's fine and traditional arts and historic structures, landscapes, and archeological sites.
(D)
- (i) The Arkansas State Archives collects and preserves the official records and historical materials for the state of Arkansas.
- (ii) These include:
- (a) (a) State, county, and federal records;
(b) (b) Manuscript materials;
(c) (c) Newspapers;
- (d) (d) Military records;
- (e) (e) Family histories;
- (f) (f) An extensive Arkansas history and genealogy library; and
- (g) (g) A collection of Arkansas art and artifacts.