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| Title | Facts Forum News, Vol.5, No. 8, August 1956 |
| Series Title | Facts Forum News |
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| Publisher | Facts Forum |
| Date | August 1956 |
| Language | eng |
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| Identifier | AP2.F146 v. 5 1956; OCLC: 1352973 |
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| Rights | No Copyright - United States |
| Title | File 067 |
| Transcript | Every state in the Union has a share in the comparatively young history and culture of America. A glimpse into yesteryear brings to mind the ancestry anil the tradition that dwells in the historic archives li each of the forty-eight slates. A pictorial series, with descriptive background, is inaugurated on this page and the back cover, and will ■>e continued in succeeding issues of Facts Forum News. Featured will he a shrine in commemoration of an honored person or site, or a place of historical significance depicting the contribution made to the heritage of our country. (^^"eS^O 7*7/^5 '0/l4iZ£ OLD STATE HOI SI IN LITTLE ROCK FAITHFULLY RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL REALTY is acclaimed of tin if The Old Stvti Hoi SE, center of almost a century of Arkansas history, finest examples of antebellum architecture in the South. The building, located on lite site of an Indian burial ground, commands a view of ihe Arkansas River and ihe spacious, tree-shadowed grounds are hound by streets on every side. The central Greek Doric "temple" and flanking wings have been immortalized by artists in paintings, etchings, silhouettes, and seriographs. Milestones of state history are recorded here — the inauguration of a first governor . . . meetings ol Legislatures from I8.'16 to 1910 . . . two secession conventions . . . four of the five constitutional conventions. Here a pioneer speaker of ihe House of Representatives once slabbed lo death a fellow- Legislator iu argument over bounty on wolf scalps: here a fancy dress ball was held lo honor Arkansas officers returned from ihe Mexican \\ ar: and here, for a wager, il is said thai half a dozen men from the city's prominent families tried lo ride horses up the inside spiral stairs. From ibis building, stale governmenl (led when Little Rock was occupied bv Union forces in September of L863. On the grounds. Yankee soldiers were photographed on dress parade and within the walls carpetbag rule once held sway. Here occurred ihe first conflict of ihe Brooks-Baxter War. memorialized by ihe old cannon. "Lad) Baxter," still standing guard on lite front lawn. The neo-classic simplicity of the Old Stale House was designed bv a kentuekian. Gideon Slnyock. Plans were put into execution by George Weigarl. Little Rock, supervising architect, and brought lo completion by John Wassell. The building was finished in 1810. al a cost of $123,379, financed through sale of land grants and bv cash appropriations. Changes came in I Kit.") brought about by normal growth and expansion of statehood. Arkansas counties increased from i I to 75 and legislature outgrew original quarters. Open courts, linking the wings to the Doric center section, were convened inio two-storied office space, with wrought iron balustrades al upper balconies. The central portion of the building was extended northward to increase the size of the hack legislative hall above, and to provide office room below. With the expansion of ihe north chamber, the House ami Senate exchanged meeting places. Arkansas" Old State House has taken its place among ihe treasured shrine- of a people rich in history and tradition. Il -lands as a monument in the long road from thai September 13. L836, when James Conwaj slood in the IiiiiiI legislative chamber and said, "Fellow citizens, the dale of our existence as a free and independent State has commenced." |
| File Name | uhlib_1352973_v005_n008_067.jpg |