In the center of downtown North Little Rock, Arkansas, sits a stately brick building known as the Old State House Museum. The first Arkansas state capitol building was where Arkansas legislators met from 1836 to 1842. Today, the museum is a hidden gem, a treasure trove of Arkansas history and culture. The Old State House Museum is housed in a two-story brick building built in 1833-34. It is the oldest surviving state capitol in Arkansas and is on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the building was initially built as a courthouse, and it wasn’t until 1836 that it became the Arkansas state capitol. Learn more here.
In 1842, the capital was moved to Little Rock, and the building became a county courthouse again. The Old State House Museum is a window into Arkansas’s past. The museum’s collections include Arkansas history, art, and culture. In addition, there are exhibits on the native people of Arkansas, the Arkansas Territory, statehood, and the Civil War. The museum also has a research library and archives. The Old State House Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, and parking is available on the adjacent deck. The museum is located at 300 W. Markham Street in downtown Little Rock. Learn more about William J. Clinton Library and Museum in North Little Rock, AR.