The state capital of Arkansas is Little Rock, and it has held that role since 1821. The city sits in Pulaski County near the geographic center of the state and houses all three branches of Arkansas government, including the State Capitol building, which is open to the public year-round.1Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Arkansas State Capitol Building
Why Little Rock Became the Capital
When Congress created Arkansas Territory in 1819, the capital was Arkansas Post, in the southeastern corner of what is now Arkansas County. That location was inconvenient for settlers spreading across the territory, and legislators looked for something more central. A bill introduced in February 1820 first proposed Cadron, in present-day Faulkner County, but the measure passed only after an amendment substituted Little Rock. Governor James Miller signed the law in October 1820, and by October 1821 the legislature had completed its move.2Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Folkloric Relocations of the Arkansas State Capital
The Arkansas River gave the new capital a trade route toward the Mississippi, and the central location kept the government within reasonable reach of residents across the territory. As Arkansas grew, Little Rock became a hub for railroads and later highways, reinforcing its role as the administrative and economic center of the state.2Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Folkloric Relocations of the Arkansas State Capital
Where the Name Comes From
The city takes its name from a sandstone outcropping on the south bank of the Arkansas River. French explorers called the formation “la Petite Roche,” the little rock, to distinguish it from a larger bluff upstream. The rock marks the point where the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains first meet the river. Geologists trace the sandstone to the Jackfork Formation, deposited in a deep marine environment roughly 300 to 320 million years ago. Early travelers used it as a navigation landmark, and the settlement that grew around it was the natural choice when the territorial government needed a new home.3Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Little Rock Geological Formation
The Arkansas State Capitol
The current State Capitol is the second capitol built in Little Rock. The first, now known as the Old State House, began construction in 1833 and still stands as the oldest surviving state capitol building west of the Mississippi River. It operates today as a museum covering Arkansas history from statehood forward.4Arkansas Heritage. Old State House Museum
The government eventually outgrew the Old State House. St. Louis architect George Mann designed the replacement, and construction began in July 1899 under builder and Capitol Commissioner George Donaghey, using convict labor. The project ran sixteen years and the building was deemed essentially complete on January 1, 1915.1Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Arkansas State Capitol Building
The building is a neoclassical design from the early twentieth century. Its exterior walls use limestone quarried near Batesville, Arkansas, while a softer Indiana limestone was used for the dome. The gold-leaf cupola rises 213 feet from ground level and is visible across the Little Rock skyline.5Arkansas Secretary of State. State Capitol History It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 28, 1974.1Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Arkansas State Capitol Building
The Capitol is the working center of state government, not just a ceremonial one. It houses both chambers of the Arkansas General Assembly, along with the Governor’s office and the offices of five other constitutional officers.1Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Arkansas State Capitol Building Under Arkansas law, the Secretary of State is the legal custodian of the building, its grounds, and its furnishings.6Justia Law. Arkansas Code 22-3-202 – Secretary of State as Custodian
Visiting the Capitol
The Capitol is open to the public on the following schedule:
- Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Weekends: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- State holidays: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Guided tours are available on weekdays by advance request. To schedule one, email capitoltours@sos.arkansas.gov. A self-guided tour booklet is always available at the tour desk if you would rather explore on your own, and it covers the major rooms, chambers, and artwork, including the legislative galleries where you can watch sessions when the General Assembly is meeting.7Arkansas Secretary of State. State Capitol Tour Information8Arkansas Secretary of State. Arkansas State Capitol Self Guided Tour
The grounds themselves are worth time before or after your building visit. They hold a substantial collection of monuments and memorials, including Testament: The Little Rock Nine Monument, honoring the nine students who integrated Central High School in 1957; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; the Medal of Honor Memorial; the Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial; and the Arkansas Firefighters Memorial. A self-guided grounds tour booklet is available from the Secretary of State’s office.9Arkansas Secretary of State. Arkansas State Capitol Self Guided Grounds Tour
Expect a security screening at entry. Check the Secretary of State’s website before you go for any schedule changes or closures, especially around holidays and special events.10Arkansas Secretary of State. Visit the Capitol