Piggott, AR – (Contributed) – Sept. 24, 2025 – One hundred years ago this year, Ernest Hemingway met Pauline Pfeiffer. The couple married two years later.
For nearly 30 years, since its opening in 1999, the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) has been in the business of sharing a love for language.
The home, which once belonged to Pauline Pfeiffer’s parents, and where Hemingway spent time over the span of 10 years visiting and writing, was purchased by the university in 1997, thanks to a generous contribution from Sherland and Barbara Hamilton of Rector.
Upon its opening two years later, HPMEC became the first of four Arkansas State University Heritage Sites.
Dr. Adam Long, executive director of the Heritage Sites, said, “The Hamiltons’ generosity made the museum, and really, all the Heritage Sites, a possibility. As we celebrate this important anniversary, we are excited to share their legacy with younger Arkansans, who will benefit from what the Hamiltons started for years to come.”
Through its reading retreats, which feature titles from Hemingway along with other authors whose books support a chosen theme, individuals have been able to celebrate literature and biographies by a myriad of writers.
HMPEC will host its next reading retreat from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. The retreat will be followed by a reception from 6 to 8 p.m.
“I think it’s important that we honor the cultural impact of one of America’s most important writers. In addition to sharing Piggott’s cultural heritage, the museum also serves as an economic catalyst for Clay County, driving tourism and supporting local businesses,” Long added.
Participants will receive copies of three titles, including “Big Two-Hearted River,” which is a short story in the book “In Our Time” by Ernest Hemingway. “A River Runs Through It,” by Norman Maclean, is a semi-autobiographical novella about his childhood in Montana and his love for fishing. “The River Why” by David James Duncan, a coming-of-age story about a young man obsessed with fishing, will be the third title that participants will receive.
“This reading retreat celebrates the 100th anniversary of ‘In Our Time,’ Hemingway’s first major publication,” said Long.
“Big Two-Hearted River” has become one of Hemingway’s most taught short stories.
“Because of the importance of this story in the high school classroom, the museum will be offering three full scholarships to Arkansas high school teachers. These scholarships, named in honor of founding donors Sherland and Barbara Hamilton, will allow area teachers to attend the retreat and take what they learn back into their classrooms,” continued Long.
Those interested in applying for one of the scholarships to the reading retreat may email Long at adamlong@astate.edu. The retreat is $150 for members of HPMEC and $175 for non-members.
This is the 12th reading retreat HPMEC has hosted. In addition to these events, the facility also hosts an annual Writer-in-Residence program, which began in 2018 with support from sponsor Piggott State Bank.
“The residency is 30 days in Piggott, with a loft rental and a stipend. The writer participates as a mentor for the summer writer’s retreat. The writer has the opportunity to write on their projects in the barn studio, used by Hemingway, during their time in Piggott,” Long added.
The application for the writer-in-residence opens in November. Long said that over the years, applications for the role have doubled.
“In the last 25 years, we’ve grown to see around 10,000 visitors onsite each year and reach another 20,000 visitors through off-site educational programming,” Long concluded.
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center is located at 1021 West Cherry St. in Piggott. Tours are held Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $15 per person, senior citizens can visit for $10 per person, and HPMEC members can visit for free. Details are available on the HPMEC website.
