Touring the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock

The Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock is a must-see for capitol hunters. This grand building has gone from an old-school prison site to an impressive icon with century-old chandeliers, murals by a Bavarian artist, and a massive vault that required a railroad track to install.

Here’s what you won’t want to miss on your visit, from the marble-filled chambers to a one-of-a-kind experience in the State Treasurer’s Office.

From Crumbling Walls to Grand Halls: The Story Behind the Arkansas State Capitol

In Arkansas’s early days, the state government operated out of the Old State House, but as the state grew, so did its need for space. By the late 1800s, the Old State House was crumbling, forcing lawmakers to decide between repairs and expansion or new construction. Ultimately, they voted for a new Capitol, choosing a hilltop site where the state penitentiary stood.

Inmates helped tear down the prison and clear the site, but delays and budget overruns plagued construction. In 1909, architect Cass Gilbert took over, elevating the design with premium materials like Vermont marble, Arkansas limestone, and Colorado columns. Today, the 287,000-square-foot neoclassical Capitol still stuns, inside and out.

The Rotunda

Hanging from a 73-foot chain, the rotunda’s chandelier is a showstopper: 4,000 pounds packed with over 2,000 brass, copper, zinc, iron, and glass parts. Not far from it, you’ll find the impressive 10-foot bronze doors by Tiffany Studios, designed by architect Cass Gilbert. These doors, polished by hand every week to keep their glow, used to be the Capitol’s main entrance.

The State Treasurer’s Office: Inside the Vault

This was hands-down the highlight of my trip to the Arkansas State Capitol, and I bet it’ll be yours too—a tour of the original State Treasurer’s vault!

Fun Fact: The vault is secured by four doors and three time locks, with its main door weighing a jaw-dropping 11 tons (22,000 pounds!). When they first tried to haul it in on animal-drawn wagons, the whole setup sank right into the mud. Plan B? They laid down a rail track to bring it up to the building, then hoisted it through a hole in the west wall using a steam winch and pulleys.

The vault is a fantastic piece of history. And get this—visitors can hold $500,000 in cash from the vault! How cool is that? I love visiting state capitols—my favorite was the PA State Capitol—but you can’t hold stacks of bills there or at any other capitol, so maybe the Arkansas State Capitol is my new fave?!

Our guide also showed us a pair of Depression-era checks found under the carpet during renovations, never processed and forgotten for decades. And I even got a peek into one of the original ledgers. (Look at that gorgeous calligraphy!)

Old Supreme Courtroom

The Arkansas Supreme Court met in this room until 1958 when they moved to the new Justice Building nearby.

Many original features are still here, like the brass handrails, the mahogany rail, the high-backed chairs, the vintage light fixtures, and the judicial bench (expanded in the 1920s to accommodate two new justices).

The room also boasts classic architectural details, with intricate ceiling designs and decorative panels symbolizing justice and law. It’s a beautiful blend of history and artistry, and well worth a visit!

Senate Chamber

The Senate chamber’s decor was restored in 2001-2002 to match the original 1914 design by artist Paul Martin Heerwagen (more on him in a bit). The Senate President’s marble desk is still the original.

In 1914, stained glass replaced the original crystal skylight to reduce glare, and draperies were added to improve acoustics. Just outside the chamber, you’ll find portraits of past Arkansas legislatures, while the public viewing galleries are up on the fourth-floor balcony.

House Chamber

The columns and pilasters in the House chamber are crafted in scagliola, a blend of plaster and marble dust polished to look like real marble. The original desks have been updated a few times, with the latest curved design—modeled after the room’s original concept—installed in 2018. The massive 2,000-pound chandelier is still the original from Mitchell-Vance.

In 2012, the “greenhouse” structure that protects the stained glass dome was rebuilt, and in 2014, the century-old stained glass skylight and ceiling details were carefully restored.

Heerwagen Murals

Above the grand staircases leading to the House and Senate chambers, you’ll spot four impressive murals positioned at the ends of the barrel-vaulted skylights. Each side has its own theme: “Education and Justice” over the Senate staircase, and “War confronts Religion” over the House staircase.

These murals were the only public art commissioned for the Arkansas State Capitol. They were crafted by Bavarian-born artist Paul Martin Heerwagen from Fayetteville, Arkansas, for $10,000. Completed in 1914, the original murals were glued directly onto the plaster walls and have been carefully restored over the years. Today, the “War” and “Religion” murals are displayed as full-scale replicas while the originals are preserved for conservation.

Explore Arkansas History Exhibits

If you’re up for even more exploring, check out the exhibits and displays throughout the Capitol. Some are permanent, while others change to feature new pieces of Arkansas’s story. My favorite? A display of Arkansas’s unique state symbols—such a fun way to connect with the state’s heritage!

More Arkansas Travel Ideas