The oldest surviving state capitol building west of the Mississippi River

Located on West Markham Street in Little Rock, the Old State House was commissioned by Governor John Pope and constructed between 1833 and 1842. Architect Gideon Shryock, who previously designed the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, chose a Greek Revival style for the building. Because the original design was too expensive for the territory, Shryock's assistant George Weigart changed the plans and oversaw construction. The Arkansas General Assembly moved into the building while construction was ongoing.

The building's history includes several significant legislative events. On December 4, 1837, during the first session of the General Assembly, Speaker John Wilson killed Representative Joseph J. Anthony in a knife fight on the floor of the House of Representatives. The building later hosted the secession convention in 1861, where an ordinance of secession passed with five opposing votes. It also served as the site for a constitutional convention in 1868, where delegates approved a new constitution that granted suffrage to black males over 21 and established public schools.

Today, the building continues to serve as a museum with exhibits related to Arkansas history and culture. The permanent collections include battle flags, the inaugural gowns of the First Ladies of Arkansas, art pottery, and African-American quilts. The front entrance was the site of President Bill Clinton's presidential campaign announcement in 1991 and his subsequent election night celebrations in 1992 and 1996.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons