Blog

Pennsylvania-born Isaac Murphy had pursued a notable career as a lawyer, teacher, farmer, local official, legislator and even prospective gold miner before the fateful day in 1861, when he s ... Read More

On Sept. 13, 1836, James Conway became the first governor of the state of Arkansas. During his term, he worked in an office within the west wing of the stately structure now known as Old Sta ... Read More

A trip made possible by the Old State House Museum School Bus Fund helped the fifth-grade students at Quitman Elementary School build background knowledge related to their classroom studies.  ... Read More

Any hopes that the government created under the Constitution of 1868 could bring peace to a state that had known turmoil for eight years were quickly dashed. Half the state was disenfranchised, an ... Read More

By the end of Isaac Murphy’s term as governor in 1868, Arkansas government was nearly deadlocked due to its refusal to cooperate with federal policies on Reconstruction. When Congress passed ... Read More

Constitutional change during wartime often was overshadowed by issues more often than not having to do with matters of survival. Nonetheless, after Union forces occupied Little Rock on Sept. ... Read More

From the moment that the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, secession was in the wind, and it would come to Arkansas. But at first, Arkansans were not of one mind on th ... Read More

During the 75 years that the Old State House served as the seat of government in Arkansas, the people were governed under five constitutions: adopted in 1836, 1861, 1864, 1868 and the current one, ... Read More

For almost two and a half decades after the seat of government departed the Old State House, policymakers struggled with indecision over the building’s fate. Hard economic times during the 1 ... Read More

LITTLE ROCK (August 26, 2019) — In honor of the 80th Annual Arkansas State Fair, the Old State House Museum will feature two fair-themed exhibits beginning Oct. 5. Through memo ... Read More