Arkansas Government Sites: Arkansas State Capitol

One Arkansas government building stands above them all, figuratively and literally. Crafted in gleaming white limestone, the Arkansas State Capitol Building is an impressive neoclassical monument. The seat of the legislature since 1911 (four years before it was finished), it is the state’s main house of government. The building was designed as a replica of the U.S. Capitol Building, and has been used in Hollywood movies as a stand-in.

Evoking power and grace, the capitol building features six immense bronze doors custom-made by Tiffany’s of New York. Marble floors and walls, grand staircases, and crystal chandeliers add to the elegant vibe. Pure gold leaf covers the cupola underneath the central dome.

Free, guided tours are available on weekdays or you can visit the building on your own. Pause in the fragrant rose garden, and pay your respects at monuments to veterans, police officers, Confederates, and the Little Rock Nine. You can also see Arkansas’ original state capitol building nearby at the Old State House, which is now a museum.