One Local Thing: A Museum That Carries a Century of Stories

Walk through the door at 1510 South Main Street in Little Rock and you'll discover something unexpected: a museum where handbags reveal the changing lives of American women. At ESSE Purse Museum & Store in the SoMa neighborhood, the objects people carried become clues to the times in which they lived.

ESSE is not simply a collection of fashion accessories. Its permanent exhibition, What's Inside: A Century of Women and Handbags 1900–1999, follows the 20th century decade by decade. Handbags and the everyday items associated with them illuminate changes in work, travel, independence, social expectations and personal style.

Why the Contents Matter

A purse can tell a bigger story than its appearance suggests. Objects such as cosmetics, keys and personal keepsakes offer clues about changing opportunities and daily routines. ESSE combines these artifacts with photography and other historical materials to tell women's stories in a way visitors can immediately recognize.

The museum grew from the collection of Anita Davis. Selected objects traveled in an exhibition titled The Purse and the Person: A Century of Women's Purses from 2006 to 2011 before finding a permanent Little Rock home in 2013.

A Special Exhibition This Fall

Visitors this season can also see Barbie & Friends, a temporary exhibition created in collaboration with the Vintage Barbie Museum of Tulsa. The exhibition opened September 24, 2026, and is scheduled to continue through February 28, 2027. It adds another perspective on fashion, popular culture and representation.

More to Explore in SoMa

The museum store carries unusual handbags, accessories, jewelry, books and gifts, including work by independent makers. The surrounding South Main neighborhood offers more local stops for visitors who want to make an afternoon of their trip.

Plan Your Visit

Where: ESSE Purse Museum & Store, 1510 S. Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72202.

When: The museum's website currently lists Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Monday. Confirm hours and admission details before visiting, especially around holidays.

Information: Visit essepursemuseum.com or call (501) 916-9022.

The next time you're looking for an unusual local outing, remember that some of Little Rock's most compelling history fits inside a handbag.