Little Rock's ESSE Purse Museum: The Only One of Its Kind in the World

Founder Anita Davis Has Built a Renowned Women's History Museum in the Heart of Little Rock

In 2013, Anita Davis opened the ESSE Purse Museum, currently the only museum of its kind in the world. Located in Little Rock's resurgent SoMa (South on Main) district, ESSE is more than a collection of handbags; it's a timeline of womanhood. As important has been Anita's role as an entrepreneur in Little Rock's revitalization story over the last decade. 

At ESSE, each purse, from its shape to its contents, tells a deeply personal, yet universal story, not just of the woman who carried it, but of the shifting expectations, freedoms and constraints that defined her era. From the beaded evening bags of the 1920s, which whispered of newfound independence, to the structured briefcases of working women in the 1980s, every piece captures a moment in time, revealing how style, necessity and societal roles have shaped generations of women.

Davis herself is as much a part of the story as the artifacts. Over the past two decades, she has not only built a world-class collection but also played a key role in revitalizing SoMa. She transformed a vacant lot into The Bernice Garden, a thriving community hub that hosts farmers' markets and festivals. She invested in historic buildings, attracting independent businesses that have turned the district into a destination for both locals and visitors. 

ESSE Highlights:

• Anita's Collection: Anita has amassed a collection of over 2,000 purses, 250 of which are found in the Museum's permanent exhibit.

• Museum Permanent Exhibit: ESSE Purse Museum's signature exhibit, "A Century of Women and Handbags 1900-1999," traces the evolution of handbags across the 20th century, offering a decade-by-decade look at how women's lives, roles and style transformed over time.

• Design & Display: Each display immerses visitors in a specific era, pairing handbags with the everyday essentials women carried—lipstick tubes, ration books, cigarette cases—creating a personal and tangible connection to history.
• Special Exhibits: ESSE, meaning “to be,” in Latin, has also showcased themed exhibitions, such as "Cutting Edge: Paper, Plastic, and Polymer Purses," which explored innovative materials in handbag design, and "Barbie: The Vintage Years," a nostalgic dive into fashion through the lens of the iconic doll. Past exhibits link. 

Today, Anita Davis's vision continues to shape Little Rock, with the ESSE Purse Museum standing not only as the world's only purse museum but as a powerful symbol of how one woman's passion can preserve history, elevate community and define a destination.

Images here - Courtesy of ESSE Purse Museum