Displayed throughout the Capitol are portraits of Arkansas’s past Governors. In the north and south corridors are four exhibit cases. These exhibit cases feature changing exhibits which interpret Arkansas’s history and events.
Located on the south wall of the rotunda is a stained glass interpretation of the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas. Adopted by the state legislature in 1874, the seal contains 16 elements, each representing a connection with Arkansas.
Governor’s Reception Room
Restored in 2000 to its 1915 appearance, the Governor’s Reception Room is used by the Governor to meet with staff, reporters, members of the public, and to sign bills into law. Each end of the room contains fireplace mantels carved from Batesville limestone. The west mantel has carvings of European settlers. The east mantel’s carvings have resemblances of Native Americans. These two groups were the first inhabitants of Arkansas, hence a rich part of its heritage. The chandelier, sconces and candelabras are original to the room, along with the quarter-sawn oak paneling. The wall and ceiling finishes are reproductions of the original decorative painting. A door in the northeast corner of the room opens to the Governor’s private office.
The Rotunda
Public meetings, speeches, rallies and hearings are held in this grand central space. Suspended from the ceiling by a 73-foot chain, the rotunda chandelier weighs more than 4,000 pounds and is approximately 12 feet in diameter and 18 feet in height. The rotunda chandelier is a complex assembly of literally thousands of brass, copper, zinc, iron and glass parts.
The Treasurer’s Office contains a large vault secured by four doors and three time locks. The massive main vault door was difficult to move inside the Capitol. The 11-ton door was shipped by train and placed on a wagon to bring it into the building. The wagon sank into the soil under the weight, which prompted the workers to lay down tracks to move the door into place through the window using a block and tackle. Today, the vault only holds small amounts of cash, and its purpose is mainly decorative and ceremonial.
Senate Chamber
The paint techniques in the room are reproductions of the originals, and the furniture was crafted to resemble the original desks. The chandelier in the Senate is the smallest of the Mitchell-Vance fixtures purchased for the Capitol. Outside the chamber and galleries hang composite portraits of past Arkansas legislatures.
House Chamber
The columns and pilasters in the chamber are a faux marble art form known as scagliola, a technique which uses gypsum, glue, pigment and marble dust to simulate the look of marble. To reduce glare and temper the chamber’s acoustics, the stained glass and drapes in the House dome, as in the Senate, were added in 1914.
The Capitol Building is open from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Elevators are located in the east lobby, and photographs are allowed in tour areas.
The gift shop is located on the first floor and there is a snack stand on the third floor
The Distinguished Arkansans Gallery and Military exhibit is located on the fourth floor.