New Artifacts on Display

The anchor from USS Arkansas (CGN 41), a nuclear powered guided missile cruiser, and the fifth (and last) ship to bear the name of the Natural State is now on display outside the entrance to the museum, right next to Razorback's propellers.

We have also added signs along the sidewalk to explain to our visitors about the propellers, this anchor, and a second, "old fashioned" stock anchor that was found during the excavation and landscaping along the riverfront.

This particular anchor was removed from USS Arkansas after she was decommissioned in 1999. It has been stored for many years at Camp Robinson, the large National Guard training facility here in North Little Rock. However, the museum at Camp Robinson really didn't have a good place to display the anchor, nor did it fit well with the rest of their collection, and given the security restrictions on visitors to the base, not many people would have been able to see it. We would like to thank Steve Rucker at the National Guard museum for safely keeping this anchor and other artifacts from USS Arkansas safe and for helping us acquire this unique piece of history.