Little Rock

Little Rock is a river port and the administrative, commercial, transportation and cultural center of Arkansas. The settlement of Little Rock was a well-known river crossing when the Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. It became territorial capital in 1821 and state capital when Arkansas entered the Union in 1836. It got its name from a rock formation along the Arkansas River, known as Little Rock.

During the Civil War, in 1863, the battle of Little Rock was fought there. Little Rock got world attention in 1957, when federal troops were sent there to enforce a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against segregation in the public schools.

There are several interesting sights in Little Rock.

Points of interest

Quapaw Quarter

The historic Quapaw Quarter features some of the oldest neighborhoods in Little Rock. The area was named after the Quapaw Indians who inhabited the area before the arrival of Europeans.
- The Governor's Mansion District is home to several interesting buildings.
  - The Arkansas Governor's Mansion and its grounds cover a city block. It was constructed in 1950 and renovated at the start of the 21st century.
  - Villa Marre dates from the Victorian era.
- MacArthur Park Historic District.
  - One of the best museums in town is the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. It is a museums and an active center for the visual and performing arts.
  - MacArthur Park is located along East 9th Street.
  - The Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal was erected in the 1840s. it is the only remaining building of the Arsenal and it was the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur, who later became a foremost commander of the American forces in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The building was converted into a museum that bears MacArthur's name.
- Mount Holly Cemetery is located at the intersection of 12th and Broadway streets. it features numerous gravesites of notable Arkansans, including former governors, senators and mayors. The cemetary was established in 1843.
- The Pulaski County Courthouse was built between 1887 and 1889. In 1914, a 4-storey annex was added. The building is located at 405 West Markham Street.
- South Main Residential Historic District features numerous examples of late 19th and early 20th century residential architecture that were built in the Queen Anne, Craftsman and Colonial Revival styles.

Other places of interest

The River Market District is also known as River Market Entertainment District, but it is usually referred to as the River Market. It consists of a city park and features a network of walkways along the banks of the Arkansas River. The park is lined with bars, shops, restaurants and public artwork. At its center is the Ottenheimer Market Hall, which was built in 1996 and houses small shops.
The beautiful old statehouse served as Capitol from 1836 to 1910.
The present Capitol building was built in 1911.
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
The Big Dam Bridge is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America. It measures 1,288 m (4,226 ft) and it is included in the Arkansas River Trail.

Museums

The forementioned Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
The ESSE Purse Museum has a collection of handbags that tell the story of American women's lives during the 20th century. The collection also includes day-to-day items that were usually carried in the handbags.
The Historic Arkansas Museum has exhibits from Arkansas' frontier times.
The Little Rock Central High School is a functioning high school that also contains a museum and a visitors center. The school grounds feature a nice park.
The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History was established in 2001. It is housed in the last remaining building of the original Little Rock Arsenal. It is one of the oldest buildings in central Arkansas.
The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is a museum and cultural center that focuses on African American history and culture in Arkansas.
The Museum of Discovery is a hands-on museum, where visitors can participate in science, history and technology exhibits.
The Old State House Museum is located in the former Arkansas State Capitol building. The museum has exhibitions on the recent history of Arkansas.
The William J. Clinton Presidential Center is home to the Clinton presidential library, the offices of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service. The Library cantilevers over the Arkansas River, thus referring to Clinton's campaign promise of 'building a bridge to the 21st century'. The archives and library include over 2 million photographs, 80 million documents, 21 million e-mail messages and almost 80,000 artefacts from the Clinton presidency. A full-scale replica of the Clinton-era Oval Office can also be seen there.

Parks

There are numerous parks and recreational spaces in Little Rock, many of which are excellent for hiking, boating and other outdoor recreational activities.
The Arkansas River Trail stretches for 27 km (17 mi) along both banks of the Arkansas River. Parts of the trail run through Little Rock.
Little Rock Zoo was founded in 1924, but it was not opened to the public until 1926. It is home to more than 200 different animal species.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is the largest park in the region around Little Rock. It is located in the Ouachita Mountains and centered on Pinnacle Mountain. The park includes the Arkansas Arboretum.

Little Rock is the seat of Philander Smith College, Shorter College, Arkansas Baptist College and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as well as several other branches of the university, including the law and medical schools. The city also contains several state institutions and has a noteworthy symphony orchestra.

Little Rock Air Force Base is in nearby Jacksonville. Little Rock's industries process agricultural products, fish, beef, poultry and bauxite and timber. Its manufacturing industries are closely related with those of North Little Rock across the Arkansas River.

There are many hotels and restaurants in town. Little Rock sits on the southern bank of the Arkansas River, not far from the geographic center of Arkansas and some 1,445 km southwest of Washington D.C.

Little Rock

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