What is the Quapaw Quarter?

All of Little Rock's history - from frontier days to the early years of the 20th century - is encompassed by the Quapaw Quarter, a nine-square mile area which includes Little Rock's central business district and adjacent residential neighborhoods. "Quapaw Quarter" is a special name that since 1961 has been used to identify this oldest and most historic portion of Little Rock. (The word "Quapaw" was borrowed from the Quapaw Indians, who lived in central Arkansas before the arrival of white settlers in the early 19th century.)

Although it actually encompasses a much wider area, the Quapaw Quarter is most closely associated with the neighborhoods surrounding MacArthur Park, the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, and Central High School. It is in these three areas, formally known as the "MacArthur Park Historic District", the "Governor's Mansion Historic District," and the "Central High Neighborhood Historic District," that Little Rock's historic preservation efforts have been concentrated for the past 40 years.

Most of the city's oldest buildings, including some that date from before the Civil War, are found within the boundaries of the MacArthur Park Historic District. Visitors to the historic district may tour the MacArthur Museum of Military History housed in the former U.S. Arsenal Building (built in 1840-2), and the Arkansas Arts Center's Community Gallery which occupies the antebellum Pike-Fletcher-Terry House. Another of the historic district's antebellum homes, Trapnall Hall, may be viewed by appointment.

Homes in the Governor's Mansion Historic District generally date from about 1880 to 1920, and they comprise an outstanding collection of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Craftsman architecture.

The Central High Neighborhood was established as a National Register Historic District in 1996.  While the oldest surviving house dates from 1870, most of the buildings in this district date from 1890 to 1930.  Exceptional examples of a wide variety of architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, American Foursquare, and Craftsman, can be found here.  The centerpiece of the district is historic Little Rock Central High School and the Central High National Historic Site and Museum.

The majority of restored buildings in the Quapaw Quarter serve as private homes or businesses. Although they are not open to the public, they can be enjoyed from the street or sidewalk via driving or walking tours. In addition, the Quapaw Quarter Association arranges for several privately owned historic houses to be opened to the public during the second weekend in May for the annual Spring Tour of Historic Homes.