When the Old State House became the seat government in 1836, its three distinct wings were designated for the three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Executive offices were situated in the West Wing. The Arkansas General Assembly met in the Central Wing. A variety of state, federal, district, and even municipal courts occupied the East Wing.
It was intended that the governor occupy the suite of four rooms on the second floor of the West Wing, while the other offices were distributed among the auditor, treasurer, attorney general, and secretary of state. Structural problems soon developed in the wing's westernmost wall, however, and these persisted in varying degrees until 1885. During that period it is not clear which offices were occupied or by whom. One newspaper account mentioned walking past on the lawn and looking in to see the governor at work, which may indicate that for a time his office was located in this room.
After 1885 the space became part of the State Library. It was the office of the veterinarian during the Medical School's tenure at the Old State House. During that time the structure was rechristened the Arkansas War Memorial Building and entrusted to the American Legion. It is known that the Legion assigned at least part of one of the rooms on the second floor of the West Wing to the Spanish-American War Veterans and their Women's Auxiliary. The Spanish-American Veterans Auxiliary would be assigned a "period room" in the West Wing when the Old State House became a museum after WWII.
The West Wing, including this room, was occupied by the History Commission from 1950 until their departure in 1979. After that it was a popular hands-on exhibit for children known as Granny's Attic. When the History Commission left, the Span-Am Room returned to the West Wing and occupied what is now the right-hand gallery of First Ladies' Gowns exhibit. It was shifted to this location during the restoration of the late 1990s.
Visit the page for the Spanish-American War Room exhibit.
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