Old State House

Little Rock’s Old State House, begun in 1833 and used as Arkansas’s capitol from 1842 to 1912, is the oldest surviving state capitol building west of the Mississippi River. Designed in Greek Revival style by Gideon Shryock and revised by George Weigart, it was the scene of dramatic episodes in Arkansas history, including an 1837 killing on the House floor, the 1861 secession convention, Civil War occupation by federal troops, and major Reconstruction-era changes. After serving other public purposes, it became a museum in 1947. Later restored and designated a National Historic Landmark, it remains important for both its architecture and its central place in the state’s political history.

Little Rock, Arkansas · United States