Sultana Historical Preservation Society announces new board members

Bids opened to bring museum dedicated to 19th-century disaster to new home

From THE SULTANA HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY

MARION — Today, the Sultana Historical Preservation Society announced the appointment of three new members to the Board of Directors. This brings the number of board members to 15.

The new board members are Dara Rhodes Bigger, Nick Sutton and Meg Earney Webb.

“The Sultana Historical Preservation Society is excited about the addition of Dara Rhodes Bigger, Nick Sutton and Meg Earney Webb to its Board of Directors,” President John Fogleman said. “SHPS is committed to building a _rst-class museum to remember the Sultana and to honor and remember her soldiers. We hope this museum will be one that every citizen of Crittenden County can be proud of.”

Dara Rhodes Bigger has lived in Marion for 24 years and currently serves as the Director of the Arkansas Seed Dealers Association and the Interim Project

See SULTANA, page A3

BIGGER

SUTTON

WEBB SULTANA

From page A1

Director for the Sultana Historical Preservation Society. Prior to these roles, Dara worked in Youth Ministry for 20 years. Nick Sutton is a lifelong resident of Marion, Ark. He is President of First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas with over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. Meg Earney Webb is a lifelong resident of Crittenden County and the owner of Meg Webb Consulting. She has nine years of experience in non-profit marketing and communications.

“Each of our new board members are deeply invested in our community and bring special talents to our Board,” Fogleman said.

“We are so excited to officially begin the construction process,” said Bigger. “We have raised all $10 million of our construction and exhibit goal and are $365,875 in to our final $3 million goal for endowing an operations fund. All is going well!”

About The Sultana Historical Preservation Society

The Sultana Historical Preservation Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in charge of the Sultana Disaster Museum and all projects and fundraising related to the new facility.

About The Sultana Disaster Museum

The Sultana Disaster Museum tells the story of the tragedy that occurred on April 27, 1865, and the events that led up to that fateful night. The museum is committed to telling the full story of the steamboat, from its construction to its destruction and beyond. Stories of the men who were freed from Andersonville and Cahaba prisoner of war camps and how and why they were grossly overcrowded onto one steamboat are told in great detail. Compelling accounts from the victims on board the Sultana, rescuers along the Mississippi River, as well as many Union officers involved in the selection and overcrowding of the boat are on display in the museum. For more information, please email John Fogleman at foglemanforcourt@yahoo. com or visit https://www. sultanadisastermuseum. com/. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Last Thursday, the Sultana Historical Preservation Society Board opened bids for construction of the new Sultana Disaster Museum. Said the Board: “A number of sealed bids were received from construction firms that all have excellent reputations, putting us right around the corner from selecting a contractor and beginning construction. We are eager and excited to keep you posted with photos of the progress!”

Photo courtesy of the Sultana Disaster Museum