Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Little Rock, Arkansas

The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is where desegregation began in 1957 and while this school is still in use today, people can take guided tours inside and walk along the grounds. The guided tours are offered at nine in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each tour may be different, because the route depends on what is happening at the school at the time. The visitor center is across from the school and is open seven days a week, except for certain holiday. There are multiple brochures available about the history of the school at the visitor’s center, so that people can read about anything that is not covered on the tour.

The exhibits inside the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum tell the story of the entire Clinton Presidency. Visitors can walk amongst photographs and artifacts and watch video clips as well. There is usually at least one temporary exhibit on display at the museum and these temporary exhibits rotate throughout the year. There are many artifacts that are not on display, so that they can be preserved for future generations. However, these items have been photographed and can be seen on their website.

The construction of the original state capitol of Arkansas began in 1833 and many important events happened there before the new capitol was erected. Once this building was no longer being used, it was turned into the Old State House Museum. There are five permanent exhibits and multiple temporary exhibits throughout the year.

This new capitol was completed in 1915 after sixteen years of construction and is a replica of the U.S. Capitol. People who tour the capitol can also walk along the property to see nine bronze statues of the students who attended Central High School during the 1957 crisis and the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.

Heifer Village is an interactive place where people can go and learn about the heifers and other global issues. There are multiple tours available and they also host many different events throughout the year. Everyone can purchase a local item at the Heifer Village Shop before leaving.

The River Market District is located in the heart of downtown Little Rock and people can eat, shop, and walk around for hours. There are numerous food vendors that sell ready to eat cuisine as well as fresh fruits and veggies. People can explore the public sculptures before heading to one of the many art galleries or museums. The River Market District is where everyone will find live music and entertainment late into the night.

There are more than 600 animals at the Little Rock Zoo, which is quite a few more than the two animals that the zoo started with back in 1926. The most popular animal at the zoo is Trudy, the gorilla. Trudy is the oldest living gorilla that is being cared for by humans. She was brought to the United States as an infant in 1957 and lived at the St. Louis and Buffalo zoos before finding her forever home at Little Rock in 1988.

Anyone who visits Wildwood Park will love the ability to wander through the botanical gardens. The park is also a place where everyone can learn, imagine, and celebrate, due in part to the Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre. The 105 acres of the park are continuously used as a phenomenal natural and cultural resource for Little Rock.

The largest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America is the Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock. The bridge was given its name, because it was built over Murray Lock and Dam and it is 4,226 feet long. The bridge is ninety feet above the Arkansas River and it connects more than fourteen miles of trails that run along the riverside. This bridge is one of the many that assist pedestrians and bicyclists traveling from place to place in Little Rock. Visitors will find that they can use this bridge to reach the Clinton Presidential Center, the River Market, multiple museums, restaurants, and much more in the city.

The Museum of Discovery is now located within the River Market District, but when it first opened in 1927, it was located on Main Street. The museum then moved to City Hall and then MacArthur Park, before finding its home at the River Market in 1998. Visitors can enter the Tesla Theater and Tornado Alley Theater to experience science as well as interact with the four permanent exhibits. These four exhibits are Discovery Hall, Amazing You, Earth Journeys, and Room to Grow.