11.    First Families of Arkansas Gallery, Governors of Arkansas Gallery, and First Ladies' Gown Gallery

Then…
For most of the State House's tenure as the seat of government, the suite of four rooms made up the Governor's Office. Proceeding clockwise from the lower right, the first room was the reception area or waiting room. To the left through large pocket doors was the office of the governor's secretary. The northwest corner office was the governor's private inner sanctum. The fourth room was the governor's official office, where he would receive visitors from the waiting room.

The larger room to the east of the Governor’s Office Suite was used by the Arkansas Secretary of State.  In 1885 there was no direct access at the time to the Governor's Office next door. To get from one to the other, it was necessary to go outside onto the balcony.

During the Medical School era, this space functioned as the Physiology Laboratory. By this time a door had been cut through into the West Wing.

Now…
This space is used for an exhibit about the First Families of Arkansas. The suite of rooms that once housed the Governor’s office is dedicated to an exhibit highlighting the First Ladies’ Gowns and other personal items of the First Families. The larger room that once housed the Secretary of State’s office is used as an exhibit about the Governors of Arkansas. Visit the First Families of Arkansas exhibit.