By: Marcia Abramson
He informed us that this would be the largest and most costly of the 11 presidential libraries. About $165 million had to be raised to cover the cost of construction of the library and museum with an opening target date of Nov. 18, 2004. Everything went according to plan and the library opened on that day to the greatest throng of notables, including the four presidents, their first ladies, foreign diplomats and Hollywood royalty - except for the unscheduled downpour. The beautiful lobby of the Belz family's Peabody Little Rock represents the traditional Southern elegance of its predecessor, the Excelsior, and was the gathering place for the elite. But the red carpet and royal elevator reserved for the famous Peabody Hotel Ducks was mistakenly shared by the actor Robin Williams, who unintentionally found himself surrounded by the ducks on the way to their special pent house. Some of the other celebrities seen at the hotel were Barbra Streissand, her husband, James Grolin, Kevin Spacey, Ed Begley, Jr. Sen. John Kerry, his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Queen Noor of Jordan, Morgan Freeman, a former Israeli Prime Minister, President Bill Clinton, his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea. The international flavor of the day was further enhanced when the gracious Maureen Brigid Gonzalez of the Peabody Little Rock was found reminiscing of her Dublin background in Gaelic with the Irish entertainer Bono. On my visit to Little Rock, I also stayed at the Peabody Little Rock and was impressed with the warmth and comfort of the hotel and am sure that it took the chill and dampness out of the opening day of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center and Park. The completed building is situated on 30 acres in the downtown River Market District of Little Rock. The architecture resembles a bridge and incorporates the theme of the Clinton Presidency as the "bridge to the 21st century" and a connect to the rest of the world. It is inspiring to see the replica of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. Of course, I don't think that any other Presidential Library has a special niche for the presidential collection of saxophones. This is indeed the largest interactive presidential archive and should make friendly Little Rock a major tourist destination. The top floor houses a spacious presidential apartment with kitchen, living room and bedroom for the use of President Clinton and his family. There is a restored railroad station connected by one of the six railroad bridges that houses the Clinton School of Public Service, affiliated with the University of Arkansas. It is hoped that President Clinton will lecture at the school in the future and will thus have the need for these living quarters. He cannot help but enjoy the fabulous view of the skyline from the apartment.Additionally, there is a wonderful symphony orchestra which has attracted great artists of the caliber of world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and a first rate Repertory Theater with Broadway imported casts. I also found Little Rock Central High School to be a very impressive building with an illustrious alumni. It played a very important role in the desegregation movement in the late 1950s and was the setting for a major integration crisis. It is an important tourist attraction now. The black student, Daisy L. Gatson Bates, who sought admission to the school on opening day, has a close relative who is a National Parks Service Guide. She is assigned to the 1957 restored Mobile Gas Station, which is now a museum and visitor's center. Another place of interest is the Old State House Museum, known for its Majestic front columns, a splendid example of Southern architecture. It is also one of the oldest state capitol buildings in the United States and has a unique Civil War collection, a charming display of gubernatorial wives inaugural ball gowns, and accolades to the music of Arkansas and Johnny Cash, Glenn Campbell and Scott Joplin. All in all, it is expected that the Presidential Library will bring more than 30,000 visitors during its first year and it is a fine place to reflect on the history of the last decade of the 20th century.For further information on the Peabody Little Rock, you can call (800) 732-2639 and for the Presidential Library (866) 773-7542.
Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
