Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and Director of State Parks, has spent nearly three decades with Arkansas State Parks since starting as a seasonal interpreter in 1995. Selected in 2022 as the 10th director of Arkansas State Parks, he oversaw daily operations for 52 parks across 48 counties, managing 55,000 acres and welcoming over 9 million annual visitors while overseeing operations, maintenance, planning, development, emergency and program services, marketing, promotion, revenue, sales, outdoor grants, and administration. Throughout his career he has served as a full-time interpreter, park superintendent, region supervisor and deputy director, and he holds a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies from the University of Memphis and a master’s degree in educational/instructional media design from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
In 2026, America celebrates its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s a momentous occasion in American history and Arkansas will be participating in marking this occasion in multiple ways.
Last year, I and 13 other Arkansans were appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the newly created Arkansas250 Commission. We were tasked with not only finding and creating unique ways to commemorate this anniversary, but also to guide communities across the state in planning their own celebrations.
The Commission knew from the beginning that we wanted to create initiatives that would leave a legacy by highlighting significant historic events in Arkansas history. One of the ways Arkansas has always highlighted its history is through the placement of historic markers. In fact, some of the oldest historic markers in the state were placed in 1936 during Arkansas’ centennial celebration. We felt continuing this tradition was important.
One of our agencies, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, manages our Arkansas Historical Marker Program. Over the last eight years, they have placed 59 markers across the state. Consequently, we have worked closely with them to choose sites and design the Arkansas250 markers.
The markers are produced by Sewah Studios, a foundry in Ohio owned by an Arkansan. The markers are custom designed. A metal pattern for each marker will be typeset by hand and used to create a mold in packed sand. The marker is cast by pouring molten aluminum into this
mold. Once hardened, the plaque is cleaned and tidied up, then colored to specification using a durable baked-on powder coat and hand-painted details.
In total, 11 historic sites will be chosen. One marker has already been officially placed in Bauxite. During World War II, Bauxite contributed 95% of the aluminum used to create military aircraft that helped us win the war. Many Arkansans don’t know the vital role Bauxite played in World War II, so we knew it needed to be highlighted. It was unveiled on Veterans Day.
As part of Daisy Bates Day, the next marker dedication will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at the Daisy Bates House National Historic Place. The Daisy Bates House National Historic Place was the house from which the Little Rock Central High Nine were picked up and dropped off before school each day. L.C. and Daisy Bates lived at the house during the Central High School desegregation crisis.
Currently, six sites have been announced, including Arkansas Post (our first Territorial Capitol), the Old State House (our first State Capitol building), the Buffalo River (the first river to be named a National River in the U.S.), the Louisiana Purchase State Park and Crater of Diamonds State Park. Other sites will be shared with the public over the next year. Each site chosen has national significance.
We are excited to share these historic markers with Arkansans across the state as well as the other initiatives we’re planning. There is so much for Arkansas to celebrate and be proud of.
LEARN MORE:
You can learn more about the Arkansas250 Commission, its work, and its other initiatives by visiting https://www.arkansasheritage.com/arkansas-250/home.