History on a Budget

Founded in 1814, Little Rock became Arkansas' state capital in 1821. It features a wide variety of historical structures, and the outlying areas offer some incredible natural scenery. Several state parks are within an hour's drive of the city.

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:

The city's visitors center is one of the nicest that I've been to. Housed in the 1842 Curran Hall, it contains a wealth of information about Little Rock and the entire state of Arkansas. I found the staff there to be more than helpful and very friendly. They gave me some great advice on parking downtown, tours, and the best things to do. While here, you will also want to check out the River Market and Riverfront Park. Housed in old warehouses, the River Market offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a seasonal farmer's market. Riverfront Park is a nice urban greenspace along the banks of the Arkansas River. It features several attractions, such as "the little rock" and the remains of Confederate fortifications used to defend the city against attacking Yankees.

Best Way To Get Around:

Most attractions are located near the river and around the area of Markham Street and President Clinton Avenue. If you do not stay in the downtown area, you will want to park across 3rd Street from the Historic Arkansas Museum. The parking here is free as long as you visit the museum. Little Rock International Airport offers car rentals if needed. They also have buses called CAT (Central Arkansas Transit), which you may ride for .10. Starting in the fall of 2004, they were supposed to have a new trolley line in the downtown area.

This attraction features a 51,000-square-foot museum building surrounded by a collection of 19th-century structures. Once you enter the museum, you can obtain information about the site or visit the gift shop. The building has several galleries focusing on Arkansas artists, plus a changing featured exhibit. When we were there, this was about pottery in the Southeast and had examples of different types from each Southern state. The hands-on history museum is a fun way for children learn about 19th-century life in Arkansas, as well as the state's geography. There is also a film shown about the state's history.

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.

This beautiful antebellum structure (c.a. 1836) houses various exhibits about the Arkansas' history and culture. It served as Arkansas' capitol building for 85 years. The picturesque courtyard in front of the building is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and includes a brick walkway leading up to a magnificent fountain set amongst a flower garden. The white facade of the building features four large columns, a balcony, and state seal of Arkansas in gold.

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.

Constructed in 1899 to 1911 and modeled after the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., this impressive structure is made of native Arkansas white marble and granite. Guided tours are given Monday through Friday, but we were there on a Saturday and had to do a self-guided tour. We picked up a map at the information desk near the front entrance.

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.

To look at this structure from a distance, one would think that it was an early 19th-century grist mill built from wood and stone. However, it is really made of copper-covered concrete and not built until 1933. The artist, Mexico native Dionico Rodriguez, created the mill, as well as the stumps, bridges, and toadstools surrounding it.

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.