The Old State House Museum in Little Rock will celebrate its 75th anniversary in February with two days of public events highlighting the museum’s history and early years.
The celebration begins Friday, Feb. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. during 2nd Friday Art Night. The event will include live music, food and drinks inspired by the early 1950s and the opening of a new exhibit. The exhibit, Enduring Image: Arkansas’ Old State House, will open in the first floor East Wing galleries and feature historic images of the building along with information about its 75th anniversary. Hands on activities will be offered and official remarks will be given.
A second event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A DJ will play music from the late 1940s and early 1950s. Punch and dessert will be served, and official remarks about the anniversary are planned. Hands on activities will also be available.
The Old State House first opened to the public as a museum on Feb. 14, 1951. Opening day activities included speeches, organ music and punch. Guests were invited to wear costumes representing the period when the building served as the State Capitol. Gov. Sid McMath and former Gov. Ben Laney attended in period clothing. Arkansas Gazette editor J.N. Heiskell delivered the keynote address, and the 58th Arkansas General Assembly unofficially met in the 1885 House of Representatives chamber. Honored guests included 27 of the more than 40 surviving former legislators who had served in the first state capitol building. A historical marker was dedicated on the museum grounds, and a formal ball was held that evening at the Marion Hotel. More than 2,500 people visited the museum on its opening day.
Construction on the Greek Revival building that served as Arkansas’ first state capitol began in 1833. The structure served multiple purposes before becoming the state’s history museum in 1951. The Old State House Museum is nationally accredited and is part of Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 300 W. Markham in Little Rock. For more information about the anniversary celebration, call 501-324-9685.
Arkansas Heritage, created in 1975, is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and includes eight agencies: the Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Old State House Museum, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum and the Arkansas State Archives. The Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism oversees Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.
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