The Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives (NEARA), a satellite facility of the Arkansas History Commission at Powhatan Historic State Park in Lawrence County, will celebrate the facility opening on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Ceremonies will begin at 1:00 pm. NEARA will house a wealth of research material for genealogists and historians including a core collection of nineteenth century Lawrence County records donated by the Lawrence County Historical Society. Documents from other northeast Arkansas sources will complete the initial collection and more will be sought for future placement.
When Lawrence County was formed on January 15, 1815, it was a part of Missouri Territory and included most of northern Arkansas and parts of southern Missouri. Twenty-nine counties in Arkansas and thirteen in Missouri claim all or part of their lands from the original Lawrence County.
Festivities planned will include the sealing of a time capsule in the entrance foyer of the new facility. Contributions to the time capsule are being sought from dignitaries, northeast Arkansas civic organizations, schools, historical societies and genealogical societies. Space in the time capsule is limited, but available to everyone in one particular format.
Century Postcards
Would you like to send a message to your great grandchildren? What would you like to say to the people of 2111? What would your friends or classmates like to say? If you can put it on a postcard, it will be included in the time capsule. Will your post card have the most creative message, a drawing, or your favorite joke or quote? Will it travel the greatest distance? What do you predict for the next 100 years?

Post cards must be received by March 1, 2011 to guarantee inclusion in the time capsule. Please send postcards to:
NEARA Time Capsule
Powhatan Historic State Park
P. O. Box 93
Powhatan, AR 72458