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From "Pillars of Power: Architecture of the Old State House":
"The capitol should be near, and if practicable, in view of the river. A State House, built with taste and elegance, near the fine river which passes by this town, would command the admiration and respect of the passing stranger."
John Pope, Territorial Governor, 1831
Between 1833 and 1842, when Arkansas was still a sparsely settled frontier, the Old State House was built on a hill overlooking the Arkansas River. The population of Little Rock at the time was barely 1,500 residents.
Territori al Gov. John Pope, who served from 1829 to 1835, and Ambrose H. Sevier, who was a delegate to the U.S. Congress from 1827 to 1836, played key roles in the construction of the Old State House. Sevier secured a federal donation of public lands which were sold to finance construction. Pope hired Kentucky architect Gideon Shryock who had designed the Kentucky capitol. Shryock's associate, George Weigart, was sent to supervise construction.
The building was constructed of brick, which was made on site, and timber, which was mostly cypress and could be harvested nearby. It had a tin roof and was covered in stucco. Its architecture is classic Greek Revival style.
Work on the capitol was plagued by the problems of constructing a grand building on the frontier.
Workmen were stricken by malaria. The steamship Ozark sank with a cargo of lime intended for the construction. And low water on the Arkansas River delayed delivery of locks, hinges and glass from Cincinnati. After 1836, contractors were forced to halt much of their work during legislative sessions, having been threatened with contempt citations because of the noise they made. It wasn't until 1842 that Gov. Archibald Yell declared the capitol complete.
From the beginning, the State House demanded constant maintenance. Repairs on the west wing continued into the 1840s. Inadequate heating forced the revamping of fireplaces in the 1850s.  By the end of that decade, the west wing again needed repair, but efforts were halted during the Civil War. After the Civil War, the building again was the seat of state government. It was here that the present Arkansas Constitution was ratified in 1874.
The building is a fine example of the classic Greek Revival style, popular during the early 1800s. Originally, the State House was three separate buildings: the west building for the executive branch, the central block for the legislative branch and the east wing housed the judicial officials. Exterior Greek Revival elements include the massive columns, porticos and triangular pediment. The inside also reflected Greek Revival elements: the patera on the door corners, faux graining of the wood and faux marbling of the fireplaces.
The three separate buildings were connected by covered walkways; later single-story hyphens were built. Finally, in 1885, the two-story hyphens were constructed and remain today. In 1885, the building was revamped in the then-popular Victorian style. Not only were the two-story hyphens made permanent, but wrought iron work was added to the balconies. Inside, the central staircase (believed to have been straight), was torn out for the construction of the current stairs, which curve up in a spiral. Wooden flooring was replaced on the second floor, skylights were added and stairway balustrade rails were replaced with more ornate spindles.
In 1911, the government moved into the current Arkansas State Capitol building. In 1947, by an act of legislation, the Old State House was designated a museum of Arkansas history. For additional information, please contact the Old State House Museum at (501) 324.9685.
"Pillars of Power: Architecture of the Old State House" is a permanent exhibit and can be viewed by the public for free. For additional information, please contact the Old State House Museum at (501) 324.9685.
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L ike archeological evidence found below ground, the state's historic standing structures constitute a record of how we lived, how we worked, and the aspirations we held dear. Their design, construction and decoration reflect both common, daily lifestyle issues and the need to present a level of architectural distinctiveness sufficient to render even the humblest edifice unique. As such, our state's historic buildings present the richest testimony to the history of its people.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program seeks to encourage the understanding of our state's historic built environment and the architectural styles that shaped it. The Hornibrook House (1888) in Little Rock, now The Empress Bed and Breakfast, is the best example of ornate Victorian architecture in Arkansas and is the most important existing example of Gothic Queen Anne style in the region.
