Here is another spot where men and women differ on accessories. Many we would certainly have remembered, if we had seen them before, since they were so unusual. It is a fun way to determine just how comfortable they are with their own sexuality.Īs we examined the display cases, we would come across some designs that we didn’t recall. If you doubt this, just ask a guy to hold a purse in a busy mall. There are not many articles that are so associated with women. It can be less of an accessory at times and more an extension of a woman’s space. Our sex has always found a little mystery surrounding the purse. The museum is very modern looking and is quite intriguing, especially for a guy. We remembered some of them from our mother’s handbags during our youth. It is interesting to see some of the things that would be found throughout the decades. The exhibits are not limited to just handbags, but also showcase items that would be commonly found in handbags during the appropriate period. The details in many of the pieces are amazing. We examined the display cases, as we listened to Anita’s story about her inspiration for starting the museum. Stepping into the gallery, we were greeted with a wide range of colors, textures, and styles. It was the 1900’s that saw the largest variations on the handbag, and that is the period Esse Purse Museum focuses on. Drawstring bags became the rage in the 1800’s and slowly gave way to embroidered styling. Smaller clutches were used for coin purses and men and women alike would use bags of all sizes. While there have been examples of decorative leather purses from earlier times, it appears that even through the Dark Ages decorative styles were reserved for the wealthy and influential. Handbags have been in existence for many centuries, but for the longest time they were simply a utilitarian tool. Bringing a purse museum to the site would certainly create a one-of-a-kind attraction.

The plan was viable, as it has worked in many other places with great success. The addition of an anchor attraction could become the impetus for other small businesses to flourish. The South Main Street area (Nicknamed SOMO) was filled with empty storefronts, like areas found in many metropolitan cities. Anita saw an area of Little Rock that was prime for a resurgence. Rest assured that all opinions are our own.ĭuring our visit we had the honor of meeting Anita Davis, the woman behind the museum. We want to thank the Little Rock CVB and Esse Purse Museum for their hospitality. This may not seem like the most expected stop on a couple’s trip, but it was so out of the ordinary that there was no way we could pass it up. The Esse Purse Museum is one of only three brick and mortar locations dedicated to the history of one of women’s most interesting accessory and the only one found in the United States. Little Rock, Arkansas has a lot of unique features, but one really stood out during our research.

Esse purse museum