The Arkansas State Capitol is the working seat of state government at 500 Woodlane Street in Little Rock, and it’s open to the public year-round for free tours. Built between 1899 and 1915, the neoclassical building houses the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and both chambers of the General Assembly, and its grounds hold more than a dozen monuments you can walk through on your own.
Hours and Tours
The building is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on weekends and state holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.1Arkansas Secretary of State. State Capitol Tour Information Hours sometimes extend into the evening during the holiday season, so it’s worth confirming in November and December.
Guided tours are free, run about 45 minutes, and are available weekdays only. To schedule one, email capitoltours@sos.arkansas.gov ahead of your visit. If you arrive without a reservation or come on a weekend, pick up a self-guided tour booklet at the tour desk on the first floor.1Arkansas Secretary of State. State Capitol Tour Information
Parking, Security, and Amenities
All visitors pass through security screening at the main entrances. Public parking is available in several lots around the complex, most of it free. The Capitol Police enforce parking rules, and violations are misdemeanors carrying fines from $5 to $25 under Arkansas law.2Justia Law. Arkansas Code Title 22 Chapter 3 Subchapter 4 – 22-3-403 Penalty
A gift shop near the basement sells state-themed books and memorabilia, and a public cafeteria on the lower level is open during the business week.
What to See Inside
The exterior is clad in limestone quarried near Batesville, Arkansas, which gives the building its white appearance, and the dome’s cupola is covered in gold leaf, visible from across the surrounding area.3Arkansas Secretary of State. State Capitol History The bronze front doors came from Tiffany & Co. of New York in 1910 for $10,000 and remain one of the building’s most recognizable features. Inside, marble for the floors and wall panels was imported from Vermont, the grand staircases were carved from Alabama stone, and the fluted columns were quarried in Colorado.4Arkansas Secretary of State. Arkansas State Capitol Self Guided Tour
A replica Liberty Bell sits in the rotunda. It’s one of 57 identical replicas created by the U.S. Treasury Department for its 1950 Independence Savings Bond Drive, and Arkansas’s bell made more than 80 appearances across the state before Governor Sid McMath accepted it and the Capitol Arts Commission voted to display it there.
Monuments on the Grounds
The grounds hold at least eighteen monuments and memorials. A self-guided grounds tour booklet from the Secretary of State’s office maps every installation.5Arkansas Secretary of State. Arkansas State Capitol Self Guided Grounds Tour
The most prominent is “Testament: The Little Rock Nine Salute,” directly north of the building. Created by John and Kathy Deering and dedicated on August 30, 2005, the bronze statues depict the nine students who integrated Central High School in 1957. The figures face the Governor’s office windows, a deliberate positioning that symbolizes a direct confrontation with state authority.6National Park Service. Testament Statues
Other installations include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial, the Arkansas Firefighters Memorial, a Monument to Confederate Soldiers, a Medal of Honor Memorial, and the Gold Star Memorial.5Arkansas Secretary of State. Arkansas State Capitol Self Guided Grounds Tour
Attending a Legislative Session
The House and Senate meet in separate chambers in the building, and the halls fill with staff, lobbyists, and members of the public during session weeks. Committee hearings are generally open to the public, with schedules and agendas posted on the legislature’s website.
The 2026 fiscal session convenes at noon on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, and can last up to 30 calendar days, putting the standard end date at May 7, 2026. The General Assembly can extend the session by up to 15 additional days with a three-fourths majority vote, pushing the final day to May 22, 2026. Pre-session budget hearings run March 4 through 6, pre-filing of bills begins Monday, March 9, 2026, and the deadline to file appropriation and non-appropriation bills is the fifteenth day of the session, April 22, 2026.7Arkansas General Assembly. 2026 Fiscal Session Important Dates
Hosting an Event at the Capitol
To hold a press conference, ceremony, or other gathering at the capitol, submit an application to the Secretary of State’s Capitol Facilities Division at least 30 days ahead. Events are approved on a first-come, first-served basis, and the office reserves the right to cancel based on staffing availability.8Arkansas Secretary of State. Application For Use Of Arkansas State Capitol Facilities
The 30-day requirement can be waived for photo shoots or for events requested by elected officials, building tenants, or designated agency heads, as long as the time slot doesn’t conflict with an existing reservation. Organizers handle their own setup, cleanup, and trash removal, and no tables or chairs are provided for outdoor events. Applications go in by mail, fax, or email to capitolevents@sos.arkansas.gov.8Arkansas Secretary of State. Application For Use Of Arkansas State Capitol Facilities
Public assemblies of more than 20 people on or near the capitol grounds also need a separate Public Assembly Permit through the City of Little Rock’s Traffic Engineering Division. For assemblies inside the capitol complex, the application asks whether the Capitol Police have been notified, and the permit holder must keep a designated contact person on site throughout the event.9City of Little Rock, Arkansas. Public Assembly Permit and Application