"For much of our history, the courthouse has served not just as a local center of the law and government, but as a meeting ground, cultural hub and social gathering place." — Lewis F. Powell Jr., Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, 1971 – 1998
"A city without old buildings is like a man without a memory." — Graeme Shankland, British architect and urban planner
The preservation of historic buildings and sites is one of the most essential ways to protect the history of any area. Places hold history and memories of people and events long past. Thankfully, Arkansas has a state agency dedicated to the preservation of these places.
Established in 1969 by the Arkansas General Assembly, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) was created in part to comply with the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. This federal law mandated state-level preservation efforts, established a nationwide framework, and secured funding for state programs.
The agency has had several names over the past five decades, but what has not changed is its mission. “The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program works to save the special places that tell the story of Arkansas.” Those special places range from cemeteries to historic structures and churches to battlefields and courthouses.
The courthouses of Arkansas' 75 counties are often recognized as historic touchstones of their communities. By the 1830s, many counties were divided into smaller areas so travelers could reach the local courthouse within a single day’s ride. This meant that occasionally a county would have two courthouses. Still today, 10 Arkansas counties have two county seats and two courthouses.
For decades, an effort has been made to save and maintain these historic courthouses. AHPP has been at the forefront of this work.
Established in 1989, AHPP’s County Courthouse Grants program has funded the restoration of 79 historic courthouses and annexes across 65 of Arkansas's 75 counties. Managed by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC), these grants are primarily funded through the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax. In many cases, limited local budgets prevent counties from tackling large-scale courthouse renovations. The AHPP County Courthouse Grant Program is vital in helping to save these historic landmarks from demolition and to help keep the historic town square an active, working part of the city.
In FY26, 20 counties received courthouse grants totaling $3,634,906. This fiscal year, 30 counties were chosen to receive the grants for the upcoming fiscal year. The projects, ranging from stair restoration to exterior repair to stabilizing the front entry steps and terrace, total $3,370,197.52.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program offers other grants focused on preserving the historic people and places of Arkansas. To learn more about the specific grant opportunities, click here. To find out more about AHPP’s other programs and upcoming events, click here.