Cabot Public Schools Museum of American History Reopens

Did you know Cabot’s first mascot wasn’t the Panther but the Pirate, with purple and green as our school colors? That’s just one of the many fascinating facts you’ll uncover at the Cabot Public Schools Museum of American History.

With thousands of artifacts and memorabilia showcasing the rich history of our district and community, the museum is set to reopen at its new location.

Reopening Information:

• Dates: Friday, December 6th, and Saturday, December 7th
• New Location: 811 S. Pine Street (next to Cabot School District Health Services)
• Hours of Operation: Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Special Tours: Available by appointment
• For More Information: Mike.Polston@cabotschools.org (501-743-3590)

This award-winning museum, founded in 1985, is Arkansas’s only student-founded and operated history museum. It was originally established on the Cabot High School campus, where it began as a school history club project led by teachers Mike Polston and David Howard. After years of expanding exhibits, the museum moved to a downtown location at 114 South First Street in 2008. Recently, the museum closed temporarily to prepare for its next chapter. Now, in 2024, it’s reopening with even more to explore at its new location.

The museum boasts a collection of over 10,000 artifacts, photographs, and documents, including exhibits on Cabot school history, presidential campaigns, military operations, and famous Arkansan musicians. Highlights include Cabot High letter sweaters from the early 1900s, a 1928 Cabot senior ring, and nearly 100 artifacts related to Arkansas music legends. The museum’s work has been recognized multiple times by the Arkansas Museum Association, earning prestigious awards such as Museum of the Year (2003) and Exhibit of the Year (1999, 2000, 2001, and 2008).

Director Mike Polston shared that the museum’s origins date back to 1981, when he noticed how historical artifacts captivated his students. Inspired, he and fellow teacher David Howard founded a school history club to collect, preserve, and display objects associated with U.S. history. 

Over the years, the museum has grown from its humble beginnings in the high school library to its new permanent home on South Pine Street.

Cabot Public Schools Museum of American History Reopens