Old State House and Historic Arkansas Museum
The Old State House and Historic Arkansas Museum is a national historic landmark located at 300 West Markham Street and 200 East 3rd Street in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
Old State House
Little Rock is the oldest capital building west of the Mississippi River that is still in use today. The Greek Revival building opened its doors for the first time in 1836, and remained under construction from 1833 to 1842. The building is made from handmade bricks. From 1842 to 1911 the Old State House housed the Arkansas Governor's offices. In 1947, the Old State House became a museum that features exhibits on Arkansas and Little Rock history.
The 8-inch iron-banded cannon on the front lawn is nicknamed "Lady Baxter." It was used to defend Little Rock during the Union attack on Little Rock in the summer of 1863.
President Bill Clinton contributed to the transformation and recent elevated profile of the Old State House. The museum was the setting for many of President Clinton's political highlights throughout his career. For instance, Bill Clinton declared his candidacy for the 1992 presidential election here on October 3, 1991. Then in both 1992 and 1996 Bill Clinton celebrated both presidential election victories at the Old State House Museum. President Clinton chose the Old State House as a backdrop for his victories because it was his "favorite building in Arkansas." President Clinton loved this building in particular because he believed that the Old State House, "embodies both a reverence for the past and a hope for the future." The Old State House includes an exhibit that complements the Clinton Library museum exhibits, such as a portrait of Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton’s saxophone, and Bill Clinton’s campaign buttons for governor and presidential elections.
Historic Arkansas Museum
The Historic Arkansas Museum is home to artifacts, art, and products that highlight Arkansas' heritage and culture. The museum features costumed "living history" guides and four original buildings from the state's past. The museum is open from 9 AM to 5 PM on Monday through Saturday, and from 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday. Admission is $1 for children 18 and under, $2.50 for adults, and $1.50 for senior citizens.
Historic Arkansas Museum is a museum located in the downtown of Little Rock, Arkansas. The museum includes a pre-Civil War neighborhood - including an 1827 tavern - and the oldest home still standing in Little Rock. The museum’s main goal is to demonstrate to visitors how early residents of Arkansas would have lived during frontier times. The site is also the location where William Woodruff once printed the Arkansas Gazette. From September 2nd until October 31st of 2004, the museum hosted the exhibit Construction Site: Clinton Presidential Center. This was featured in the Trinity Gallery for Arkansas artists. The photographs featured were of construction of the center beginning in January of 2003, by Timothy Hursley.
The Historic Arkansas Museum was formerly known as the Arkansas Territorial Restoration.
