Beautypically

Guide to Little Rock: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. Highlights of Little Rock: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shopping.

According to toppharmacyschools, Little Rock is located on the first hill that travelers came across on the road along the Arkansas River, so it was quite logical to establish a settlement here. And when, by 1819, it became clear that the site of the former capital of the state of Arkansas, Arkansas Post, often flooded, the state government decided to move here. Today, Little Rock is a densely populated and interesting city with beautiful parks. Many urban sites in Little Rock bear the name of Bill Clinton: the future president became the governor of the state five times before being elected.

How to get to Little Rock

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is located in the east of the city, near the center. It receives flights from all major airlines in the country from Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit, Denver, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Washington. The Amtrak train on the Los Angeles-Chicago line stops at Little Rock (albeit late at night, which is not very convenient). You can also get to the city by Greyhound or Megabus bus on the Dallas-Memphis line.

Attractions and attractions in Little Rock

The most remarkable places of the city are concentrated mainly in the downtown. The first of these is the state capitol building, built in 1915. It was designed on the model of the main capitol of the country and therefore appeared in several films. Tourists can inspect the halls when they are not meeting. On the grounds of the Capitol are a memorial to those killed in Vietnam, a memorial to the Law and a monument in honor of the Little Rock Nine.

The Old Capitol is indeed the oldest surviving state government building west of the Mississippi. Today it houses the state history museum. One of the buildings of the museum is Grandmother’s Cottage, where household items and utensils of 1920-1930. You can not only see but also touch.

The Little Rock Nine was the name given to nine black students who enrolled in 1957 at the Central City High School, where previously only whites studied. In order to prevent students from entering the school, the state governor called in the National Guard troops. It took the intervention of President Eisenhower, who called in the airborne troops so that the children could get to school unhindered. The situation went down in history as the Little Rock Crisis.

The building of the Central School is quite remarkable from an architectural point of view in itself – in particular, a recognizable facade. And after her role in the Little Rock crisis, the school became a national monument, and a museum was opened under her. Another landmark in the city associated with the events of 1957 is the home of Daisy Bates, the most famous defender of civil rights for blacks.

MacArthur Park was laid out around the old armory building, where General Douglas MacArthur was born in 1880. There are two museums in the park. The Art Center of Arkansas has a wonderful art gallery, where the works of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, Rembrandt are kept. The second museum in the park is dedicated to the military history of Arkansas: this is the only building left from the old arsenal. Artifacts from the 19th century to the present day are on display. A monument to those who died in the Korean War was erected nearby.

The Kramer Art School Cooperative occupies a former school building built in 1895. The beautiful Romanesque Revival building was converted into a living and working space for artists at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Peabody Duck Hotel is worth a look even if you don’t plan to stay there. Not only is the hotel itself first-class, but every day live ducks are solemnly released into the lobby fountain. The webfoots arrive at 11:00 am and emerge from the fountain at 5:00 pm.

3 things to do in Little Rock:

1. Cross the 1.2 km Big Dam Bicycle Bridge, a key point on the Arkansas River Route. It is the longest pedestrian bridge in the country that has never been crossed by vehicles.
2. Take a trip to the old mill in North Little Rock, where the opening scene of Gone with the Wind was filmed. Apparently, this is the only real construction from the film that has survived to this day.
3. Go to the Toltec Mounds, a state park 35 km from the city. The mounds are over 1000 years old, and there is not a schoolchild in Little Rock who would not be taken here on an excursion.

The Arkansas Historical Museum features four old preserved houses. The museum also has an exhibition with changing expositions. The Heifer International Center is dedicated to the Earth and ecology. Behind the main building is Heifer Village, an interactive museum and educational center. The Discovery Museum is located on President Clinton Avenue. This historical and scientific museum with interactive exhibitions is well equipped for visiting with children.

Mount Holly Cemetery is sometimes referred to as the “Westminster Abbey of Arkansas”. This is a historical cemetery of the 19th century, where the most noble and famous citizens are buried, including poets, governors, mayors, etc.

Riverfont Park is located in the heart of the city, overlooking the river. It is notable, among other things, for the fact that it is located on the site of that same mountain formation – the “small rock”, after which the city got its name. The park hosts the Riverfest every year.

Another interesting quarter of the city is Kuapo, adjacent to the downtown area. It is a residential area built up mainly with 19th century Victorian mansions. Most of the houses are now privately owned, but twice a year (on the first weekend of May and December) some of them are opened for public inspection. Worthy of note is the Villa Marre, built in 1881, which was used for the filming of the TV sitcom The Designer Woman. And of course, it is interesting to look at the governor’s mansion (also served as a backdrop for the same sitcom).

If you have time to explore the city in more depth, you should first go from downtown to midtown. There are two adjacent cozy districts – Heights and Hillcrest, which are filled with the atmosphere of a small town. At one time they were the most exclusive areas of the city. Cavanaugh Boulevard winds through both districts, where you can find many of the city’s most popular restaurants, as well as art galleries and all sorts of obscure shops. Also in midtown are a war memorial park and a zoo.

West Little Rock is a new area of ​​the city with large block houses, new hotels, chain restaurants and other achievements of progress. Here is the Pinnacle Mountain Park, which offers a wonderful view of the river. Climbing the hill in the park is not difficult even without physical training. In addition, the park has several kilometers of hiking trails, fishing (license required) and canoeing. The Ouachita National Wildlife Trail begins here and leads to Oklahoma.

Also in West Little Rock is Wildwood Art Park, home to the city’s unique botanical garden. Wildwood has made it its mission to highlight all the arts, including culinary and healing arts, and with 105 acres, pavilions, gardens and a theater complex, it has become one of the finest in the state.

North Little Rock is actually an independent city located on the other side of the river from downtown. The Argent Historic District is in the original Downtown North Little Rock and is one of the oldest protected urban areas in Arkansas. Argenta is an excellent example of restoration, in which the inhabitants of the area themselves participated. North Little Rock is also home to the Arkansas Maritime Museum, where you can explore the World War II Razorback submarine. One of the largest urban parks in the country, Burns Park stretches along the river and is crossed by the Arkansas River Route, a waterfront beltway over two historic bridges.