History on a Budget

The main historic district, known as the Quapaw Quarter, is made up of the downtown area and a couple of Victorian and Antebellum neighborhoods. Of note here is a house called Villa Marre (circa 1881), which was the setting of the TV show "Designing Women." It is not open to the public, but you can view the exterior from the street. The Empress of Little Rock Bed and Breakfast (aka the 1888 Hornibrook Mansion) is an architectural jewel. Its ornate gables and spires make it a perfect example of Queen Anne architecture. You will also want to check out the Capital Hotel (1873). The exterior is impressive, but the lobby will definitely take you back in time. The tile floors, marble walls, Georgian column, and grand staircase make it one of the most picturesque that I've seen. President Ulysses S. Grant once stayed here while visiting Little Rock. The Peabody Hotel, located across the street, is also interesting for its troupe of ducks that live in the lobby. Every day, they are paraded from their "duck palace" to the hotel fountain. At the end of the day, they are paraded back to the palace.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The open-air portion of the museum represents the state's frontier period of the early 1800s. The Brownlee House, McVicar House, Hinderliter Grog Shop, and Woodruff Print Shop may be toured on your own or through a guided tour. One-hour guided tours are led by costumed interpreters and cost $2.50/person. The Grog Shop (c.a. 1834) is Little Rock's oldest house. In 1835, Arkansas' last Territorial legislature met here. The Woodruff Print Shop is the original site of the Arkansas Gazette, the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi River. The Historic Arkansas Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays from 1 to 5pm. For more information, call 501/324-9351 or visit www.arkansashistory.org.

Inside, you can watch a short film about the building's history narrated by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Clinton gave his inaugural speeches here in both 1992 and 1996. Hillary Clinton's inaugural gown is featured in an exhibit about the state's first ladies. Other permanent collections include Civil War artifacts, African-American arts and crafts, and political memorabilia. The house chambers, formerly used by the state legislature and supreme court, still appear as they did when this building was the capitol. Changing exhibits are also featured at the museum. When we were there, it was about Arkansas' musical heritage. Exhibits displayed memorabilia about and belonging to native Arkansans such as Johnny Cash, Floyd Cramer, Al Green, and many others. The grounds feature several monuments, one of which honors David Dodd. Dodd was a young Little Rock native who was executed by Yankee soldiers for being a Confederate spy.

The Old State House is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays from 1 to 5pm. Admission is free. Give yourself plenty of time here, as there is lots to see. We had to go back a second day because we didn't give ourselves enough time the first day.

The large rotunda area features pictures of the state's governors. While in the rotunda, look up at the dome for a magnificent view. One fascinating thing about this building is that it is asymmetrical. On each side of the rotunda are identical staircases surrounded by murals leading up to the Senate and House Chambers respectively. The governor's office is on the second floor and may also be viewed.

On the capitol grounds are monuments dedicated to Arkansas natives killed in Vietnam, law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and a nice rose garden. The brass doors at the front entrance are 10 feet tall and 4 feet thick. They were bought from Tiffany's of New York. The capitol building is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

A wonderful place for a picnic, the park-like setting here is perfect for photo shoots. The day we were there, they were taking bridal portraits and shooting an album cover for a musical group. The mill is famous for a brief cameo in the opening credits of "Gone With the Wind." After watching that segment of the movie several times just to see the mill, it appears that the surrounding landscape has changed dramatically since the 1930s. If you try to catch it in the movie, don't blink, or else you'll miss it! Before making your way to the mill, be sure to get good directions, as it is not easy to find.