Clinton House Museum Added to ?Billgrimage?

The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission opened the doors to the Clinton House Museum on Oct. 13.

Since then, about 250 visitors have stopped by the 1,800-SF brick house off California Boulevard, said Joseph Barnes, museum director.

Last year, the University of Arkansas purchased the one-bedroom house where Bill and Hillary Clinton were married for $249,950. The UA began leasing it to the commission in June for $1,000 per month, said Allyson Twiggs, director of the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau.

Barnes said there have been visitors from 28 states and nine foreign countries. Some out-of-town visitors have come to Fayetteville specifically to see the house, but the majority of them are with local residents who take them by the museum. Admission is $5.

Without any other advertising except from the media coverage, Barnes said he’s happy with the numbers and hopes an advertising campaign that begins in the spring will bring in more visitors this year. The commission’s goal is 3,500 visitors for 2006, he said.

The commission is also working with the Clinton Presidential Library and other cities like Hot Springs and Hope to start the “Billgrimage” passport, where a visitor can take a book that resembles a passport and get it stamped at each site that pertains to President Bill Clinton.

Inside the house, there is a replica of Hillary Clinton’s wedding dress in the living room where they were married in 1975. Other memorabilia include notes, pins and commercials from Bill Clinton’s early political career.

“Through people who know [the Clintons], I’ve gotten word back that they’re both excited about it and they’re pleased it’s happening because they have very fond memories of Fayetteville and of the house,” Barnes said. “I’ve heard stories of when he was in town when he was president, driving by [the house] with the Secret Service just to look at it.”