Archive for the ‘Old State House Building’ Category

This proclamation, signed by President U. S. Grant, ended the month long Brooks-Baxter War.

 For more information on this fascinating period in Arkansas’ history, visit the Old State House Museum website at: www.oldstatehouse.com, or even better, come and visit the Old State House!

Badges, Bandits, and Bars, our very popular exhibit focusing on law enforcement and justice in Arkansas has, sadly, drawn to a close.  It was a great success.    

I am pleased to say, this April, the Old State House Museum will open the first of five exhibits focusing on the American Civil War.  This exhibit, entitled An Enduring Union, focuses on soldier reunions held in the years after the Civil War.  One such reunion was held here in Little Rock in May, 1911.   

Old State House, 1911 U.C.V. Reunion Headquarters

The United Confederate Veterans held events at locations throughout the city and the Old State House was the center of activity.  In the post card shown, the Old State House is being used as the registration headquarters for the veterans.    

It is an exciting time here at the Old State House.  Please check in frequently for more updates and be sure to see An Enduring Union when it opens.

     Begun in 1934 as a make-work program for architects and photographers during the Great Depression, the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documented thousands of architectural landmarks across the US.  The survey didn’t attempt to restore or preserve the physical structures themselves, rather document their current state as thoroughly and accurately as possible.  In the state of Arkansas, over 140 historic buildings were surveyed, including the 1836 Old State House in February 1934.  The Library of Congress currently houses the results of the survey, but has made all of it’s contents available online, which is an amazing research tool for those interested in historic preservation.