Arkansas was one of those states that I visited and didn't quite know what to expect. Quite honestly my first impressions weren't good since they were of run down neighborhoods and commercial areas in great need of renovation. The fact that it was gloomy and overcast during my entire trip certainly didn't help with my photos, so until I return this is all I got. But like all places in the world, everything has something beautiful and several places worth visiting good. For Arkansas I'd say its highlights are the outdoors and the town of Hot Springs.
Arkansas Links	Arkansas' state capitol building is located in downtown Little Rock, not too far from the Arkansas River. Construction started in 1899 and was completed a whole 16 years later in 1915. Like most capitol buildings, it was designed to be a replica of the main US capitol building in Washington DC. The capitol grounds in Little Rock are surrounded by several monuments like the two below. The lower left is a Vietnam wall memorial also similar to the one in DC. The memorial directly below is dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.
The historic building to the left is the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi river. It was built in 1836 and was used until the current capitol building was completed. Above is a photo of a painting of what the old state capitol looked like when it was first created back in 1836.
The old state capitol has since been turned into a museum that focuses on the history of Little Rock and the state as a whole. They actually gave an interesting look on the past history of Arkansas, mostly about it's reputation of high crime in the early 1900s. Arkansas started off as a state with a rural population but famous in America for its high crime. A large section in the museum is named Badges, Bandits and Bars that is dedicated to its crime. Above is a confiscated gambling kit taken from the 70s. On the rigth is a photo of a photo of the most famous criminals of all time; Bonnie & Clyde..
In my opinion, the most significant historic place to visit in Little Rock is easily Central High School located right outside the downtown area in a residential neighborhood. The high school was built in 1927 as one of the most expensive in the United States, and was also the largest and most beautiful at the time. The school had a capacity for 20,000 students, but received international attention in 1957 when the governor of Arkansas refused to allow 9 black students to attend. The country was in the process of desegregation, and the new concept of introducing black students to white high schools met fierce resistance in certain parts of the country. The issue at Little Rock Central High School escalated far enough to where the president of the United States had to get involved and gave the students a military escort. Eventually, overtime the desegregation process was completed and became socially acceptable. The students known as the 'Little Rock Nine' were seen as taking part in one of the most important issues in the US. Above is the high school and their graduating class, on the left is a reunion memorial.
So not to ruin the great story about the Little Rock Nine, but I couldn't avoid taking a few shows in the area of the high school. It's honestly one of the most beat up and run down neighborhoods I've ever seen! I'd almost say 1 out of 5 houses is condemned like the two above, and while there are a few nice houses here and there most houses that are occupied don't look much better than the two homes above.
Since President Bill Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas, there are plenty of places named after him in the state. On the right is a trolley going down the street named Bill Clinton Avenue. Below is a museum and store dedicated to the former president, and on the lower right is the Clinton Presidential Center. A large museum and that focuses on his presidency and hosts numerous events each month.
President Bill Clinton Avenue is the main street in the river market district. Most of the bars, restaurants, shops and museums are built along the Arkansas river. On the left is the inside of a small indoor food court, on the right is a amphitheater on a gloomy day. Since it was in the middle of January and overcast, the above photo doesn't look to appealing, but I can imagine this would be a fun place to see a concert on a summer night when the weather is nice and people are out having fun.
	A popular place to visit or stay during a trip to Little Rock is the upscale Peabody Hotel also located in the River Market District. There are several Peabody hotels located in the southeastern part of the country, with the original one found in downtown Memphis. The Peabody Hotel in Little Rock also keeps the tradition of having live ducks that live in the lobby fountain. This hotel is also the site of many meetings and expos, such as the Marine Expo that was held in the middle of January..
What I enjoyed most in Little Rock was walking along the Arkansas river at night, opposite side of the downtown area. There wasn't too much in this area, but mostly a quiet trail that offered some great views of the entire city. On the upper right is a long foot bridge that spans the Arkansas River. Below is a photo of the Arkansas Queen, which offers tours up and down the river during certain times of the year.
My last stop in Little Rock was the Mount Holly Cemetery which was founded in 1843. One of the oldest and important cemeteries in Arkansas, it is the final resting place forseveral important figures from Arkansas, including governors, senators, city mayors and famous citizens who made this state their home.
The best town to visit in Arkansas is Hot Springs in my opinion. Once a major destination in the country, the spa town of Hot Springs no longer attracts upper class tourists in the numbers they used to, but the famous sites, historic district, restaurants and bars, and of course the springs themselves still exist. The surrounding area also has plenty of wildlife and natural beauty and was even visited by Hernando De Soto.
Since I visited in the winter time, I was happy to see this trail by the historic district covered with some green scenery and even red berries in the middle of January. This small area is actually part of Hot Springs national park, and the trail I hiked has an observation tower at the top of the hill overlooking the town itself and surrounding areas. Of course, the trail also passes by many hot springs. Below is a photo of a waterfall that comes into a fountain with temperatures around 147 degrees. Because of the hot springs, this area was once very important to native Americans and in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became a tourist magnet for Americans who visited to bath and stay at the luxury town..
These surrounding photos are of the actual historic district in Hot Springs. The town was founded in the early 1800s but was largely left destroyed and deserted after the civil war. After being rebuilt soon after, the population soared and it quickly became a popular place for American tourists. Today, most of the buildings unfortunately look like they could be restored, but the insides are still kept in good condition..
The large building on the left is the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center built in the late 1880s. The US government also took up the beliefs that the hot springs held therapeutic benefits and so the first joint Navy and Army hospital was created. As the demand and interest began to decline, the rehabilitation center eventually closed down and today the building serves as a career and training institute..
Most of the original bath houses that existed are no longer in full use or have been turned over to museums. Above is bath row, were several bath houses line the main street in downtown Hot Springs. On the right is another bath house called Quapaw Baths that is still in use today. It offers a spa, massages, and even has a cafe..
These surrounding photos show what the bath houses looked like back in the early 1900s when they were at their peak. It's kind of strange seeing what life must have been like back then without all the high tech gadgets we use nowadays. In modern times people would be listening to iPods, using their laptops and talking on cell phones, while back then it seems a piano and a pool table were enough. Perhaps it used to be more about having a drink and relaxing with good company! Speaking of relaxing, the machines and devices you see below were designed for that purpose, but I think many of them almost look like torture devices! Some of these things were even used to treat certain diseases..
During my short trip to Arkansas, I came across many cool trees that were covered with ferns. I've never seen fern on a tree before, and for some reason the fern only began to grow from about 6 feet on the tree and higher. Above is a close up shot of one of the branches, on the right is the tree as a whole. The little bit of blue you see in the sky was my only break from the overcast and rain I experienced!.
	Right outside Hot Springs is Lake Ouachita, which is part of the Ouachita National Forest. It's the largest lake in the state, and home to a rare freshwater jellyfish often seen in the summer. The islands, hiking trails and water sports make it an ideal place to visit in warmer months..
Since I visited Arkansas in the winter, I didn't have a chance to come across much wildlife or some breath taking scenery with all the trees being dead and all. Out of desperation for some type of animal I took a photo of the large crow on the left. The black vulture on the right was the only unique animal I saw, apparently it lives on the east coast but until I came to Arkansas I've never seen this species before.

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Arkansas Travel

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