U.S. Arsenal Building
National Historic Landmark

U.S. Arsenal Building

Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Listed
July 27, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
70000127

About this property

The Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal, also known as the Main Building of the U.S. Arsenal at Little Rock, or Headquarters Building of the Little Rock Barracks, is the home of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. It is also a part of the MacArthur Park Historic District, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Built between 1840 and 1841, it was part of Little Rock's first U.S. military installation. Since decommissioning, the building has housed two local museums. It was home to the Arkansas Museum of Natural History and Antiquities from 1942 to 1997 and the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History since 2001. It has also housed the Little Rock Æsthetic Club since 1894. The building receives its name from its distinct octagonal tower. Besides being the last remaining structure of the original U.S. military installation and one of the oldest buildings in central Arkansas, it was also the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur, who became the supreme commander of U.S. forces in the South Pacific during World War II. It was also the starting place of the Camden Expedition during the American Civil War.

Location

Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
34.73842, -92.26266

Categories

MILITARY
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about U.S. Arsenal Building

This page lists U.S. Arsenal Building. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your U.S. Arsenal Building report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Memorial to Company A, Capitol Guards
Civil War
0.1 mi
St. Edwards Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bechle Apartment Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pike-Fletcher-Terry House
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Johnson House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Engagement at Ashley's Station (Pulaski County 1864)
1864Civil War
0.4 mi
Skirmish at Little Rock (January 1864)
1864Civil War
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was U.S. Arsenal Building listed on the National Register?

U.S. Arsenal Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1970.

What type of historic resource is U.S. Arsenal Building?

U.S. Arsenal Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is U.S. Arsenal Building a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. U.S. Arsenal Building has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for U.S. Arsenal Building?

The period of significance for U.S. Arsenal Building is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1840.

Can I research the history near U.S. Arsenal Building?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near U.S. Arsenal Building will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Pulaski County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Pulaski County.

Explore PulaskiCounty ›

More historic places in Arkansas

Browse all historic places in Arkansas.

View Arkansashistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Arkansas history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Arkansashistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near U.S. Arsenal Building will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report