Arkansas Historic Preservation Program

08/05/2026

We can't wait to take you here on Friday! This is very nearly the oldest church building in all of Little Rock. We'll peel back the layers of history to tell you stories of a strong and resilient community and of the magnificent building that they built with their own hands and donations.

Step inside one of Arkansas' most significant historic landmarks.

Join us Friday, August 7 at noon for our Sandwiching in History tour of First Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock.

Founded in 1845 by the Rev. Wilson Brown, First Missionary Baptist Church is home to one of Arkansas' oldest Black congregations. The current Gothic Revival sanctuary, built in 1882 by formerly enslaved craftsmen, became a cornerstone of Little Rock's historic 9th Street district and played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement.

From hosting Booker T. Washington to welcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to its pulpit in 1963, this National Register-listed church continues to inspire generations.
📍 Free and open to the public

08/04/2026

The Arkansas State Review Board for Historic Preservation will meet tomorrow, Aug. 5, at 10:00 a.m. to nominate properties to the National Register and Arkansas Register of Historic Places. As always, the meeting is open to the public.

Pictured here is the one of the properties to be nominated to the National Register: the 𝗠𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮 𝗟𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 in North Little Rock. At first glance, it may not look remarkable, but it is very unique. It's a porcelain-enameled steel Lustron House of the late 1940s. Built with a steel frame and covered with square porcelain-enameled steel wall panels and roof tiles, Lustron Houses were developed as pre-fabricated homes that could be erected cheaply and quickly on site. The Lustron House was hoped to be mass-produced and was also hoped to be a house type that could aid in alleviating the post-WWII housing shortage that was a problem across the country. By the end of 1949, twelve Lustron homes had been shipped to Arkansas, and the Vallea House is one of four known surviving examples in the state, and the only Lustron house known to survive in North Little Rock. In addition, the house’s garage is the only known Lustron garage remaining in Arkansas.

Other properties being considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places are the 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 in Hot Springs, 𝗔𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 in Russellville, 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 in Arkadelphia, the 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 in West Memphis, the 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 in Fayetteville, and a couple of 1936 𝗔𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. The 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 in Helena-West Helena, the 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 in Helena-West Helena, and the 𝗜𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 will be considered for Arkansas Register listing.

07/21/2026

This week, Sewah Studios is featuring a historical marker from right here in Arkansas! Sewah Studios has been making historical markers for 99 years and produces markers for many states' official marker programs. It's an Ohio company, but it's owned by Arkansas natives, one of whom grew up right here not far from Bayou Meto.

As you travel across Arkansas, historical markers like these are your guides to local history. Take a moment to stop and enjoy them and learn something about communities like Bayou Meto.

Grand Prairie Historical Society

Marker Monday 🏛️

This week’s featured marker highlights Bayou Meto Cemetery, established in 1876 after Allen “Uncle Gip” Gibson donated land to serve the local community.

A former Union soldier, skilled carpenter, blacksmith, and Justice of the Peace, Gibson believed the cemetery should always remain a place for the community—free of charge and supported through volunteer efforts. His generosity and vision continue to be remembered nearly 150 years later.

Historical markers like this help preserve the stories of the people and places that shaped our communities, ensuring their legacies live on for future generations.

07/17/2026

Does your historic property need restoration? ⛪ The application window for AHPP's annual grants has been announced for the upcoming FY28 cycle. Applicants should set up their accounts as soon as possible and be prepared for the following dates:

👉Letter of Intent period opens: September 14, 2026
👉Application period opens: November 16, 2026
👉Courthouse Grant application deadline: January 27, 2027
👉Historic Preservation Restoration Grant application deadline: March 3, 2027

Set up your account and apply at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=arkansasheritage. If you have questions, contact [email protected].

Grant award decisions are usually announced and communicated to the applicant in June.

Pictured: An old window at the historic Kocourek and Son Hardware Store in Hazen, before restoration through an AHPP HPRG grant. Photo courtesy of David Hardke.

07/15/2026

This is a great example of how communities can benefit from our County Courthouse Restoration Grants. This project has gotten a lot of attention in Hope.

Finding a New Future for the Old Hempstead County Courthouse

https://hopeprescott.com/2026/07/14/finding-a-new-future-for-the-old-hempstead-county-courthouse/

07/02/2026

Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🗽🎆

AHPP offices are closed on Friday, July 3rd, in observance of Indepencence Day.

07/01/2026

A new Arkansas Heritage historical marker is being dedicated this weekend. It tells about the Mt. Union (now Blackton) Church of Christ and Cemetery in Monroe County. From its founding in 1882 by a newly arrived Civil War veteran to its associations with a prominent 20th-century preacher, this little church ties into bigger stories on the national level.

The marker dedication will take place on Sunday, July 5, at 1 p.m. A celebratory service commemorating the church's history will precede it at 10 a.m.

05/15/2026

Exciting news: "I am pleased that the City of Harrison is now a part of our Certified Local Government program," said AHPP Director Scott Kaufman. "This program has a proven record of fostering historic preservation and economic development for municipalities not only in Arkansas but also nationally. I know that the City of Harrison will greatly benefit from this exclusive program, and I look forward to following their successes."

HARRISON, Ark.- The City of Harrison is now Arkansas’s 22nd Certified Local Government (CLG) community, according to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. State officials announced May …

05/14/2026

We can't resist sharing more photos from last weekend's cemetery preservation workshop at Historic Cane Hill. Thank you to everyone who came to learn, clean, and reset historic gravestones! 🪦

We're sad to mention that this workshop was the last one that will be coordinated by our historian Holly Hope, as she plans to ride off into the sunset of retirement in the coming months. Holly has coordinated 50-60 (or more?) of these workshops over the years and has taught countless people about the best methods of gravestone care. Thank you, Holly, for the good work you've done equipping people to protect Arkansas' historic cemeteries! 🧡

05/14/2026

Want to soak up some Arkansas history this weekend? It's Pioneer Days in Norfork tomorrow and Saturday, May 14-15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Jacob Wolf House grounds will come alive again with early nineteenth-century activity. Experience living history among the frontier camps of period reenactors—meet a French fur trader, explore traditional crafts, and connect with an ancestral way of life. See an old-fashioned keelboat up close and imagine how travelers used to arrive at the Wolf House via the White River. The Early Arkansaw Reenactors Association and the Trans-Mississippi Pioneers will be your guides to the living past.

Make sure to tour the historic Jacob Wolf House. Built in the 1820s as a county courthouse and later used as a home, this log cabin is the last remaining two-story dogtrot public structure in the United States. The house was also a witness to Indian Removal and is part of the National Park Service’s Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

Pioneer Days weekend will be full of activities for the whole family. In addition to the Jacob Wolf House, other venues in town will host a parade, music, food, contests, and more.

It's that time of year again! The city of Norfork is hosting its annual Pioneer Days festival on May 15 - 16 and the Jacob Wolf House is joining in on the fun.

Stop by for a guided tour, meet historical reenactors, and experience what life was like in frontier Arkansas. You can even explore a keel boat and learn about early river commerce.

Come step back in time with us!