The new Chaffee Crossing museum district, consisting of three places of exhibitions, will open at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 15 in Fort Smith. The morning ceremony will take place at Building 803, the locale where Pvt. Elvis Presley got his first military haircut.

Located on the former Ft. Chaffee Army base property, the Fort Chaffee Barbershop Museum contains a replica barbershop restored with items authentic to the period, from bathroom fixtures to the barber pole. The barbershop takes up the front portion of the building and includes a life-size cut-out of Presley in his uniform in the barber chair. The back portion of the building contains some Elvis memorabilia, such as the script from the “King Creole” movie he finished filming the day before he was inducted, and original photos.

“This will not be an Elvis museum like you see at Graceland,” explained Ivy Owen, executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority. The museum will also reflect the history of Ft. Chaffee through exhibits from the ‘40s and ‘50s, as well as items specific to the time Presley was there. For more information about Chaffee Crossing, visit their website, by clicking the link below.
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Posted:  12th. August 2008