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Little Rock Historic District Commission

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Little Rock Historic District Commission

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Little Rock Historic District Commission, Government Organization, 723 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, AR.

The HDC and staff work with residents, property owners, neighborhoods, local and state nonprofit organizations, and City of Little Rock departments to protect and enhance our community’s cultural and architectural heritage for the benefit of the future.

09/02/2026

Wood window workshop 🪟🛠️

Historic District Commission staff, Sarah Spakes, attended a wood window restoration and weatherization workshop in Hannibal, MO with Bob Yapp last month. For this workshop, participants made operable two double-hung, four-over-four wood windows. Participants pulled out the windows; removed the paint, putty, and panes; used Dutchman repair techniques to fix blemishes in the frame; primed the frame; glazed and added the panes; and reinstalled the windows. Sarah and her teammate were the only team that did not break any of their original panes!

These repairs are possible whether there are also storm windows, such as these. Staff often receives questions about wood windows, making this training an opportunity to better serve constituents!

This training was funded by 2026 Certified Local Government Grant funds through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.

09/01/2026

Step back in time with this week’s historic gem: the Lamar Porter Athletic Field. The Lamar Porter Athletic Field was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on 12/6/90 as an example of Works Progress Administration architecture and as the only remaining site from the early days of the Little Rock Boys’ Club. Built in 1937 with the help of the Works Progress Administration, the Lamar Porter Athletic Field is a regulation-sized baseball field with a U-shaped grandstand. Founded in 1914, the Little Rock Boys’ Club dedicated itself to provide support, skills, and structure for boys. By 1934, the Little Rock Boys’ Club set out to build a baseball field for the boys of all three club locations. Lamar Porter, an alumnus of Little Rock High School, was killed in a car accident in Virginia during his junior year at Washington and Lee University. His mother, aunt, and brother donated the land in his honor for the field. Several famous baseball players came through the Little Rock Boys’ Club—Bill Dickey, New York Yankees catcher and manager, and Pat Seerey, Chicago White Sox catcher. Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles third baseman and Hall of Famer, played on this field. Now, the field is still used for baseball games.

For more information on this site and other Little Rock Landmarks, follow this link https://littlerock.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=358a709d8d984fba99104e5eb1d2328e or find it in the bio.

Slide 1: 2026, photo by City staff.
Slide 2 & 3: undated, photo courtesy of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
Slide 4: 2026, grandstand entrance, photo by City staff.

08/31/2026

Due to lack of business, the Historic District Commission meeting scheduled for September 3 is canceled. Please join us at the next scheduled meeting on October 1, 2026.

08/25/2026

Step back in time with this week’s historic gem: the Veterans Administration Hospital. The Veterans Administration Hospital (“VA Hospital”) was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on 9/14/21 for its representation of the nationwide expansion of veterans’ services and its architectural significance in Little Rock. Built in 1950 in the International style by two architecture firms—Brueggeman, Swaim & Allen and Erhart, Eichenbaum, & Rauch—the building features a flat façade, windows flush to the facade, unornamented wall surface and details, a distinct Y-shaped floorplan, and a flat roof. Established in 1930, the Veterans Administration expanded pensions, medical care, and education benefits. After World War II, the growing need to serve veterans sparked a nationwide campaign to build veterans facilities. The building served as the VA Hospital until 1984, when the new VA Hospital was built near the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In 1995, VA Hospital served as a religious organization education center. In 2002, the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) Downtown Patrol and Special Operations moved into the building. Now, the VA Hospital serves as the Flats at SoMa, which offers 168 housing units and the headquarters for the LRPD Downtown Patrol and Special Operations and for Preserve Arkansas.

For more information on this site and other Little Rock Landmarks, follow this link https://littlerock.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=358a709d8d984fba99104e5eb1d2328e or find it in the bio.

Slide 1: 2025, photo by City staff.
Slide 2, top to bottom: 1950, photo courtesy of the Earl Saunders Jr. Collection at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture (UALR CAHC); 1950, south entrance, photo courtesy of the Earl Saunders Jr. Collection at the UALR CAHC.
Slide 3 and 4: 1950, southwest elevation, photo courtesy of the Earl Saunders Jr. Collection at the UALR CAHC.
Slide 5, top to bottom: 2021, photo by Travis Ratermann; 2021, south entrance, photo by Travis Ratermann.

08/20/2026

🎉🏛️Exciting news!!

The Little Rock Historic District Commission won a nationally competitive award for the MacArthur Park Design Guidelines at National Alliance of Preservation Commissions FORUM2026 in Minneapolis, MN last month! Commissioners Christina Aleman (Chair), Amber Jones (Vice-Chair), and Diane Thomas-Holliday and City staff Hannah Ratzlaff and Sarah Spakes attended FORUM and accepted the award. Attendance was funded by a Certified Local Government grant through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Arkansas Historic Preservation

Commissioners have a variety of training opportunities throughout their time serving on the Historic District Commission.

At FORUM2026, commissioners and staff attended conference sessions, case studies around the Twin Cities, and roundtable discussions to learn more about preservation best practices alongside preservation peers.

08/12/2026

Step back in time with this week’s historic gem: the Henderson House. The Henderson House was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on 5/28/99 for its association with Benjamin D. Henderson, whose uncle was John E. Bush. Built in 1925, this home features Craftsman details such as low-pitched, clipped gabled roof; exposed roof rafters; decorative braces under the eaves; and a full-width porch supported by square brick columns. The home remains nearly unaltered for over 100 years. Benjamin Henderson and his wife Loraine lived in this house when he served as secretary-in-charge of the Mosaic Templars of America Adequate Rate Department. This house sits on the “Bush Block,” where many members of the Bush family built their homes. The home still serves as a single-family residence.

For more information on this site and other Little Rock Landmarks, follow this link https://littlerock.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=358a709d8d984fba99104e5eb1d2328e or find it in the bio.

08/11/2026

Little Rock’s history lives on in the Tuf Nut Historic District. The Tuf Nut Historic District was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on 3/27/03 for its representation of commercial development in eastern downtown Little Rock from the 1900s-1950s. The Tuf Nut Historic District consists of two large commercial/industrial buildings—the Tuf Nut-Sterling-Dailey Building at 300-312 Rock Street and the Tuf Nut Building at 423 E. 3rd Street. Both buildings housed manufacturing and office space, with tenants including the Tuf Nut Garment Manufacturing Co.; the Little Rock Tent & Awning Co.; Sterling Stores, Inc.; Pfeifer Brothers Department Store service center; and Dalton Dailey & Associates. In the early 20th century, these buildings sat in a commercial/industrial hub of Little Rock. By the 1970s, many of the other commercial/industrial buildings had been demolished. The historic character lives on through the practical 20th century commercial architecture that has been adaptively reused to fit contemporary needs in the heart of downtown.

For more information on this historic district and other Little Rock Landmarks, follow this link https://littlerock.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=358a709d8d984fba99104e5eb1d2328e or find it in the bio.

Slide 1, clockwise from top: 300-312 Rock Street, northeast elevation; 419-433 E. 3rd Street, north elevation; 419-433 E. 3rd Street, northeast elevation.
Slide 2: 300-312 Rock Street, east elevation.
Slide 3: 419-433 E. 3rd Street, north elevation.
Slides 4 & 5: 419-433 E. 3rd Street/300 River Market Avenue, east elevation.

08/05/2026

Step back in time with this week’s historic gem: the Joseph Taylor Robinson House. The Joseph Taylor Robinson House was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on 3/28/75 for its association with Joseph Taylor Robinson. Built in 1904 by Frank Gibb, this Craftsman and Stick style house features decorative trusses, horizontal and vertical bands, flared eaves, and full-width porch supported by stone columns. Originally built for railroad and lumber leader Harry Foster, Senator Robinson bought the home from Elisabeth Foster, Harry’s widow, in 1930. Robinson—former state legislator, U.S. Representative, Arkansas governor-elect, and ultimately U.S. Senator—lived here with his wife, Ewilda, during the height of his political influence. As Senate majority leader in 1932, he played a pivotal role in advancing President Roosevelt’s New Deal and even helped bring President Roosevelt to Arkansas in 1936. After Robinson’s sudden death in 1937, Ewilda remained in the home until 1958. The property transitioned from a private residence to a cancer recovery home in 1984. The home is in the Governor’s Mansion Historic District, and it now serves as an escape room venue.

For more information on this site and other Little Rock Landmarks, follow this link https://littlerock.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=358a709d8d984fba99104e5eb1d2328e or find it in the bio.

07/30/2026

Due to lack of business, the Historic District Commission meeting scheduled for August 6, 2026 is canceled. Please join us at the next scheduled meeting on September 3, 2026.

07/29/2026

Step back in time with this week’s historic gem: the Arkansas Teachers Association Headquarters Building. The Arkansas Teachers Association Headquarters Building was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on 2/1/18 for its association with the Civil Rights movement in education. Designed by George Henry Tschiemer & Associates and built by Smith Brothers General Contractors in 1965 in the Modern style, this building features a shed roof with shallow coping; large, simple windows set in metal frames; and an asymmetrical façade. Originally named the State Teachers Association of Arkansas in 1898, the Arkansas Teachers Association (ATA) fought for education equality for Black children and Black teachers’ rights. In 1960, the ATA began fundraising for a dedicated headquarters, supervised by Executive Secretary Thomas Patterson. The headquarters became a professional and social hub for Black civic groups and hosted private events. During desegregation, the ATA’s successful lawsuit against the Morrilton School District for firing only Black teachers set statewide precedent and made national news. After merging with the Arkansas Education Association (AEA) in 1969, the building served as AEA offices and supported Patterson’s election as the first Black member of the Little Rock School Board. In 1971, it housed doctors’ offices. Now, the building is for sale as a pair with 1304 Wright Avenue.

For more information on this site and other Little Rock Landmarks, follow this link https://littlerock.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=358a709d8d984fba99104e5eb1d2328e or find it in the bio.

Address

723 W. Markham Street
Little Rock, AR
72201

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15013714789

Website

https://www.littlerock.gov/city-administration/city-departments/planning-and-development/divisions/cultural-heritage-his

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