Travels WithJohn and Janice
The old train bridge lit at night in Little Rock
United States3 min read

Dateline May 28, 2017, The Clinton Presidential Library

Arkansas2017 TravelHistoryRoadtrek#Clinton Library#Little Rock#Presidential Libraries#Arkansas River#RV Camping

Staying in Little Rock. We wanted a place to stay right in the city, so we would not have to fight the morning traffic out to the Clinton Library. We found a city RV lot just across the river from it and headed over, and what a surprise it was, fabulous. It sits right on the Arkansas River, with an old train bridge turned walking bridge next door that takes you straight across to the library. At night the bridge lights up beautifully. All of that for twelve dollars and fifty-six cents.

Our riverside RV spot in Little Rock
Our riverside RV spot in Little Rock
The old train bridge lit at night
The old train bridge lit at night

The Clinton Library. In the morning we walked across the bridge to the library. It is a striking building, with views out over the river, and the whole property was reclaimed from what had been an environmental ruin and turned into the library and a city park.

The Clinton Library across the river
The Clinton Library across the river

The library was dedicated on November 18, 2014, with four former presidents on hand, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.

The Clinton Presidential Library
The Clinton Presidential Library

The front is simple and beautiful; to our eye it is one of the handsomest presidential libraries we have seen, just behind the Reagan and the Nixon. Inside, the displays are wonderfully arranged, a series of small nooks that walk you year by year through his time in office, with a good deal as well on his years as governor of Arkansas. The volunteers will take you around and know their stuff. Whatever your politics, it was a fine experience, right down to the recreations of the cabinet room and the oval office.

Out front we had a good laugh at a giant bug on display, and decided John belonged in the picture with it.

John and the giant bug
John and the giant bug

We spent a few hours reading and wandering the library, then walked back across the river, said goodbye to Little Rock, picked up the RV, and started the long drive home.

Saying goodbye to Little Rock
Saying goodbye to Little Rock

That brought our Spring Fling to a close, a month on the road, west to Sedona and home again. We will be out again in July for a summer of it: local golf, family along the way, and Janice up to Newfoundland to play in the Canadian Senior Women's Amateur. We will tell you all about it then. Happy summer, 2017!

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