Voices from Eureka’s Silent City Spring Tours

The Eureka Springs Historical Museum is pleased to announce that it will be hosting its first spring performance of “Voices from Eureka’s Silent City” cemetery tour this year on two Fridays in May, the 6th and the 13th. This will be an encore of the 2010 Fall performance.

The numerous “healing” springs in the area, long visited by Native Americans, became known to the rest of the world in the late 1800s and quickly became a mecca for those seeking relief and cures for their various afflictions. Almost overnight, the population grew to over 10,000 and soon there were hotels, boarding houses, doctors, lawyers, brothels, funeral homes, general stores, snake oil salesmen, churches, and the spa city was born. As with most boomtowns, the population was a diverse mix of personalities.

Although the population has diminished since those days, the eccentricity of the residents has endured. Eureka has remained a complex stew of passionate and unique individuals creating a wealth of material for the Voices’ cast. Selected “citizens” of the Silent City have been asked to share their stories.

Meant to entertain rather than scare, the “living” history tour features live actors in period costumes playing the roles of early citizens of Eureka Springs reminiscing about their past. Some of the characters were pillars of the community and some were figures whose colorful, outrageous or scandalous behavior helped shape the history and the myths of the town.

Volunteers in period clothing host and lead the tours. This is an approximately one hour walking tour that includes 5 minute stops with each “citizen.” Tours are scheduled to start around 5:30 p.m. and will leave every twenty minutes, the last one ending at 8:00 p.m. After dusk, participants will be led by guides with lanterns if necessary.

A limited number of seats will be along the path and at the speakers’ locations for those who need to rest a spell. After the the last stop, light refreshments will be available.

Tickets, $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years old and under, may be purchased at Cornerstone Bank, Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Museum and at the event. Free parking and shuttle service will be available at Eastgate Shopping Center located on Highway 62 East across from Passion Play Road.

The Voices from Eureka’s Silent City tour, named the Outstanding Historical Event in 2009 by the Eureka Springs Preservation Society, promises history lessons from those who lived it and a truly memorable and entertaining experience.

The saga is just beginning. The town cemetery holds hundreds of fascinating stories waiting to be told. The tour is a fundraising project of the members of the Eureka Springs Historical Museum. Proceeds are used to finance daily operations, special exhibits and on-going restoration projects. The all new 2011 fall tour is scheduled for two weekends in October, the 14th & 15th and 28th & 29th.

For more information, call the Museum at 479/253-9417 or email info@eurekaspringshistoricalmuseum.or

Tags: eureka springs, events, may, spring, tours