Present Structure Cost $2,500,000; Took 17 Years to Build

Evolution of Arkansas’s state capitol buildings from the frame two-story home of the last territorial legislature in 1835 to the beautiful $2,500,000 building which houses the present state government is shown in the accompanying pictures.

Records reveal that the last session of the territorial legislature was begun October 5, 1835, in what was known as the old “Henderliter” house located at what was then Mulberry and Cumberland streets.  Of two stories, the house was first built of logs and later “weather boarded” with framework.

 It was constructed years before 1835 by Jesse Hinderliter, a German, who operated a grocery store and made his home in the old dwelling.

 The “Henderliter” home is still standing on the northwest corner of Third and Cumberland streets.

Prior to establishment of the territorial legislature in the Henderliter house, the first session of the legislature in Little Rock was held on October 1, 1821, in a two-room frame house, erected by Amos Wheeler on the site where now stands the Arkansas Democrat building.

 However, the building became so dilapidated in 1831, that “rain fell from the roof of the state capitol building upon the head of the judge who swore in members of the Arkansas general assembly,” and the statesmen were forced to move to the Henderliter building.

 It was in the old Wheeler building that a $6 appropriation was made to buy firewood to keep the building warm during a winter session, after the speaker of the House of Representatives had dug down in his pocket for money for wood during the first meeting in the frame house.

 In his first message to the general assembly on October 13, 1829, Gov. John Pope, standing in the dimly lighted halls of the old Henderliter house, urged the necessity of acquiring better quarters by the legislature, and on March 2, 1831, President Andrew Jackson approved an act of Congress authorizing appropriation of 20 sections of public land for construction of a state capitol building.

 The old state capitol, now known at the State War Memorial building by Act 385 of the 1921 legislature, was authorized by Congress in January, 1832, and work on the structure and grounds was started in 1833.  Construction proceeded through the next three years when the exterior of the main building was completed.  Plastering and inside finishings were finished in time to permit occupancy by the first state legislature, which assembled September 12, 1836.  The entire work was not completed however, until 1840.

 Total cost of the building, the proceeds of which were derived from sale of lands donated by the federal government, and appropriation of state funds, was $158,379.  The old Capitol was vacated in 1911, and the first session of the general assembly convened in the new capitol in that year; however, all offices were not moved to the new edifice until more than a year later.

 The building was begun during the tenure of Governor Pope.  Plans were drawn by Gideon Shryock, Lexington, Ky., architect, who designed the Kentucky capitol building.  George Weigart, a Kentuckian, superintended the work, and the brick and stone work was done by Thorn and Cook.  The work of landscaping the grounds, setting out the trees, and building walkways was directed by W.W. Stevenson, superintendent of public buildings, in 1840, when the tract was enclosed by a heavy iron fence which still stands.

 In 1877, the coat of arms of the state, which had been used on the Arkansas building at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, was placed on the front of the central building over the main entrance, and the fountain which was also used a the national exposition was set up in the center of the grounds.

 The new capitol was completed at a cost of slightly more than $2,000,000, after about 12 years of effort in which it was made the storm center of least three heated campaigns for governor.

The building program was first initiated I 1899 during the administration of Governor Dan W. Jones and the first Capitol Commission was created by the Legislature in that year.  It was composed of the governor and representative from each of the six congressional districts.  The foundation was built after an appropriation of $50,000 had been made and the incoming legislature in 1901 was asked to provide additional funds to continue father building operations.

 Governor Jeff Davis had been elected in that year on an anti-capitol platform.  A new capitol commission was then created, and an appropriation of $1,000,000 made for completing the building.  But for the next two years, due to “unsatisfactory conditions,” work was stopped.

Subsequently, the 1903 legislature instructed that the work proceed. New commissioners were appointed. Governor Davis vetoed the bill, but the legislature repassed it over his veto.  A contract was then awarded on August 13, 1903, to Caldwell & Drake of Columbus, Ind., for erection of the building on the completed foundation at a cost of $947,846.  George R. Mann, who was chosen as architect by the first group of commissioners, retained that position.

 During 1904 and the ensuing two years, confusion on account of the death of John S. Little and occupancy of the governor’s office by Lieut. Gov. X.O. Pindall, work was again at a standstill on the new capitol, and by the time the 1907 legislature met new complications hindered the program and the legislature refused the request of commissioners for more funds with which to complete the building.

 No further work of importance was done until George W. Donaghey was elected governor on a “complete the capitol” program.  After several months of legislative skirmishing Governor Donaghey was given complete charge of the building operations.  He appointed John I. Moore of Helena,  R.F. Foster of Rison, Charles L. Thompson and H.L. Remmel of Little Rock as his assistants in carrying forward the work.  Cass Gilbert of New York was selected as architect, and he caused a survey to be made of all work done.  He recommended that the entire interior of the building be removed and rebuilt.  This was done.

 The entire building was finished in 1916, or 17 years after it was first begun.