Little Rock Attractions
Little Rock is rich in history and has many things for vistors to see and do. Below is a list of some of my favorite things.
The Old State House Museum is the oldest standing state capitol building west of the Mississippi River. Construction on the building began in 1833 and was declared complete in 1842. The building was commissioned by Territorial Governor John Pope, who selected Kentucky architect Gideon Shryock (who previously designed the Kentucky state capitol building) to create plans for the Arkansas capitol. Shryock chose the Greek Revival style, then a popular design for public buildings, for Arkansas’s new capitol. The original plans were grand and too expensive for the young territory’s finances. Consequently, the plans were changed by George Weigart, Shryock’s assistant, who oversaw construction at the Little Rock site
William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Welcome to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library’s Archives. The Archives comprises approximately: 78 million pages of official records, 20 million email, 2 million photographs, and 12,500 videotapes documenting the life and career of the 42nd president of the United States.The Clinton Library is the nation’s 11th presidential library, administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Library opened on November 18, 2004. Presidential Libraries are not libraries in the usual sense. They are archives bringing together the documents of a President and his administration
Little Rock’s unique River Market is the vibrant epicenter of downtown’s entertainment district; the River Market serves as the hub for capital city entertainment and family fun. Featuring two open-air pavilions, a 10,000 seat amphitheatre on the banks of the Arkansas River and an unparalleled indoor bazaar, the district offers an eclectic mix of shopping, cuisine, live music, art and the annual Farmers’ Market. The Market Hall has 15 full-time merchants who are open year-round and offer specialty foods, fresh meats and seafood, flavorful baked goods, specialty coffees and much more. We invite you to check out our extensive calendar of concerts, festivals and other special event happenings offered throughout the year, and discover why the River Market is the place to eat, shop, play and stay in Central Arkansas!
The Little Rock Zoo has a rich history in providing the citizens of Arkansas with a quality recreational experience that educates children of all ages about the importance of wildlife conservation. Through natural animal exhibition and educational programming, the Zoo serves as a hands-on classroom where learning is fun. The Zoo is a proud department of the City of Little Rock and is committed to providing the highest quality care for its animals while striving to make every guest experience special. As one of Arkansas’ most attended attractions, the Zoo also serves as a driving force for economic development. That’s why the citizens of our community support its state’s largest and only accredited Zoo. The Little Rock Zoo brought wildlife to the citizens of Arkansas in 1926 with just two animals: an abandoned timber wolf and a circus-trained bear. Today the Little Rock Zoo boasts more than 725 animals representing more than 200 different species, many being endangered.
Founded in 1976, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is the state’s largest non-profit professional theatre company.
A member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT D), The Rep has produced more than 300 productions including 40 world premieres on its 354-seat MainStage and 99-seat black box SecondStage located in its historic building in downtown Little Rock. Robert Hupp, Producing Artistic Director, leads a resident staff of designers, technicians and administrators in the creation of eight to ten productions for an annual audience in excess of 70,000 for MainStage productions, educational programming and touring. The Rep employs guest artists from across the country to produce works, created, rehearsed and built in downtown Little Rock, ranging from contemporary comedies and dramas to world premieres to the classics of dramatic literature
