About Arkansas State Capitol
The Arkansas State Capitol is the seat of state government and one of Little Rock's most prominent historic landmarks. Constructed from 1899 to 1915 on the site of the former state penitentiary, the building was shaped by architects George Mann and Cass Gilbert and was built in part with prison labor. The Arkansas General Assembly first met in the unfinished Capitol in 1911. Its monumental neoclassical design features extensive marble, limestone, grand staircases, a soaring cupola, and a gold-leaf-covered dome that reflects the civic architecture of the early 20th century.
Visitors can explore the public areas of the working Capitol, view exhibits, learn about Arkansas government, and walk the surrounding grounds and memorial landscape. Free guided tours are available on weekdays by advance arrangement, while self-guided tour materials are available for visitors who prefer to explore independently. Because the building remains an active center of government rather than a preserved museum alone, a visit combines architectural history with a firsthand look at Arkansas's present-day civic institutions.
