Old State House

The Old State House in downtown Little Rock does live up to its name. It is still the oldest standing state capitol building west of the Mississippi River, having been constructed between 1836 and 1842. The building has played its part in several chapters of state history, and since Arkansas is often a wacky state the museum reflects that. In 1837, the Speaker of the House fatally stabbed a state Representative during a heated debate about the all-important subject of wolf pelt taxation. After the current Arkansas State Capitol was built in 1911, the Old State House went through a few different uses. It served as medical school for awhile, and as a veteran's memorial. The building was nearly torn a few times, but luckily it was spared the wrecking ball and would become a state museum in the 1950s. Bill Clinton said it was his favorite building in Little Rock, and used it as the backdrop when he announced his candidacy for President, and then for his Election Night victory parties in 1992 and 1996. The Old State House is now listed as a National Historic Landmark.



The Old State House grounds are also filled with little bits of history. The fountain in front of the building is a recast of the three-tier fountain that was installed in front of the Arkansas Building at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Nearby is an old canon, which has a deep history. The canon was originally forged in New Orleans in 1861 during the Civil War, and was placed on the CSS Pontchartrain gunboat. The boat sailed up the Mississippi River and the canon was taken off and used to defend Arkansas Post during the battle of Ford Hindman in 1863. The canon was damaged during the battle, and afterwards was repaired and then moved up the Arkansas River to Little Rock to help guard the city.

Before Union troops captured Little Rock a few months later, Confederate troops spiked the canon and then dumped it into the Arkansas River. There it sat for eleven years, until it was dragged out and returned to service during the Brooks-Baxter War. That conflict was between two candidates for governor, and it ended up becoming an armed conflict (with 200 casualties) that required intervention from President Grant. The canon was dragged up from the river and restored by Baxter's militia, who dubbed it "Lady Baxter," and positioned it towards the Brooks barricade. After the conflict ended, Baxter's supporters staged a parade through downtown Little Rock where the canon firing a single celebratory shot. Reportedly, the blast from the canon was so strong that it shattered windows for four blocks around it. The canon was then put on display on the lawn of the Old State House, where it still sits today.



The Old State House has undergone significant renovation and restoration in order to restore it to its original appearance. But one aspect of old capitol you won't find is the large statue of Justice that used to sit prominently on the roof of the building. In the early 20th century, the statue was considered somewhat risqué since Lady Justice showed off a little too much cleavage. Members of the Sisters of Temperance Society were offended and reportedly hired a gang to sneak into the building and tear down the statue, who then unceremoniously dumped it in the Arkansas River.