Ozark Folk Center Arkansas State Park in Mountain View Arkansas About Us
Ozark folk arts, pioneer crafts, Ozarks music, pottery, basket weaving, blacksmithing
Hours and Rates
Events Calendar
Crafts, Herbs and Music
Dry Creek Lodge and Skillet Restaurant
Education and Workshops
Maps and Directions
Photo Gallery
For Kids and Teachers
Meetings, Reunions and Group Travel
News Room
About Us

News From The Folks

Ozark Folk Center Preserves Pioneer Hertitage

Our Mission

MISSION: The Ozark Folk Center, dedicated to providing living history, exists to: Preserve, document, display and interpret the cultural and social history of the Ozark region, an area that takes up part of five states: Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

SCOPE: The Park's interests are in the areas of: The cultural and social history of the Ozarks region in pre-modern times. In the area of pioneer crafts, this is generally interpreted as before 1921, and in the area of mountain music before 1941.

GOALS: To achieve its missions, the Park will:

  1. Collect, document, and preserve examples of traditional skills of the region. This includes presenting the living history of pioneer crafts, traditional arts, and American folk music, dance and song. It may also include pioneer architecture and building skills such as fencing, riving, etc.

  2. The collection, documentation and preservation of Ozarks folklore and oral history.

  3. To inform visitors through interpretation, exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, tours and concerts about crafts and music of the Ozarks.

  4. To educate through conducting, promoting and publishing original research on folklore, the social and cultural history of the region by its staff and others.

We offer workshops in pioneer crafts, herb gardening and traditional American folk music, as well as special programs for children and seniors. Make plans now to attend Ozark Folk School.