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North Little Rock History Commission

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North Little Rock History Commission

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The North Little Rock History Commission serves as the keeper of our city's unique and rich history. With archives stored at the William F.

The mission of the North Little Rock History Commission is to collect, keep, and care for materials bearing on the history of the city from the earliest times, and maintaining those materials in the archives of the City of North Little Rock. The Commission provides educational programs and services, and encourages and assists in scholarly research on the history of North Little Rock. The North Little Rock History Commission was established by city ordinance in 1975. Seven volunteer members, appointed by Mayor Eddie Powell, began collecting historical photographs, documents, objects and oral interviews for the city archives. Active for more than a decade, the commission resigned en masse in 1987, stating it had accomplished what it set out to do, after publishing “North Little Rock: The Unique City,” a history book authored by Commissioner Walter Adams with assistance from other Commission members Evelyn Eubank, Gene Hull, Grayson Dickson, Pat Davis, Earlene Butterworth, and Alfred Schultz. Mayor Patrick Hays revived the Commission in 1989, and two years later, Sandra Taylor Smith was hired as Director. Laman Library at 2801 Orange Street, the Commission opened an office in 1993 in the historic Barth-Hempfling House at 507 Main Street. In 1999, the Commission’s offices and archives were moved to the historic Park Hill Water Company building at 3427 Magnolia Street. The offices and archives moved again in 2003 to the second floor of the historic fire station and city hall building at 506 Main Street. After Laman Libray moved its Argent Branch location to the old post office building, the Commission took over both floors of the building allowing for more archival space and public space for exhibitions. In 2004, during the city’s centennial, the commission published a history book, titled “On the Opposite Shore: The Making of North Little Rock,” written by award winning journalist Cary Bradburn, who joined the staff of the History Commission in 2002.

10/30/2026

It's time once again for another Flashback Friday post. There is a lot going on downtown today with the ribbon cutting for the new atg Pavilion, the trick or treaters going up & down Main Street, and other Halloween festivities. I hope you're not afraid of ghosts because we have a "ghostly" FF for you today.

Uncovered recently, two “ghost signs” have been visible on a building at 5016 East Broadway in Rose City. Ghost signs are old hand-painted advertisements. There are a few in downtown North Little Rock, Mid City, and elsewhere.

In this case, the hand-painted signs had been covered up until the wood siding was exposed. The building likely dates to the 1930s or 1940s. The signs probably were painted in the late 1940s or 1950s.

Dan Scott, director of North Little Rock Neighborhood Services, photographed the signs after Shirley Abel of the office spotted them.

“Hires to You!” advertised Hires Root B**r that Charles Hires, a Philadelphia pharmacist, developed in 1876. The Hires company introduced the slogan in 1947.

“Clear Heads Choose Calvert” was the slogan of the Calvert Distilling Company, famous for its Lord Calvert rye wh***ey and other brands. The slogan was used from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Apartments and various businesses occupied the building at 5016 East Broadway for decades, according to city directories from 1951 until now.

Our thanks to Dan & Shirley at Neighborhood Services for these photos.

Be safe this Halloween! Watch out for the little goblins & princesses and we'll see you at the museum!

North Little Rock Tourism

10/23/2026

Good afternoon! It's time once again for another Flashback Friday post. Gee, I sure am in a "cheer"ful mood, aren't you?

The North Little Rock Times published this photograph of North Little Rock Ole Main High School’s varsity cheerleading squad on December 18, 1986.

By winning the Award of Excellence at the National Cheerleading Association camp in July 1986, the Ole Main cheerleaders qualified for a trip to Orlando, Florida, to compete in a national competition against 276 other cheerleading squads.

Ole Main’s junior varsity cheerleaders and the Oak Grove High School cheerleading squad also qualified for the national contest. None of the local teams came away from nationals with any awards, other than the experience.

Members of the Ole Main varsity in the photograph were (bottom row, from left) Curtis Carter, Ronnie Johnson, Shelly Hefner, and Ronnie Dotson; (Middle row, from left) Jeff Edwards, Shannon Rook, Mary Claire Bateman, and Dean Duckworth; (top row, from left) Stacy Springer, Sonja Henderson, Paige Wilson, Heather Steel, Michelle Ferguson, and Julie Reagen. Not photographed were Eva Gunter, Gary Wallis, and Michelle Stoll.

Ole Main’s junior varsity cheerleaders (not photographed) were Kristi Harris, Tammy Harper, Kelli Benz, Brouke Reynolds, Merlynne Williams, Michelle Robertson, and Debbie Crawford.

Have a great weekend, everybody! Get out and enjoy this beautiful weather we've been having. It's great to be outside!!

North Little Rock Tourism

10/22/2026

Here's a Thursday Teaser for you. Who was Lizzie Simmons? What does she have to do with a paddle wheel boat and Civil War bullets? Come to our museum and find out! In fact, you will be amazed at all the fascinating things you'll learn when you visit our museum, Stories from the North Side, at 506 Main St., North Little Rock, AR. We're open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Come see us!

10/17/2026

Well, no technical difficulties this week. Just a forgetful administrator. So sorry for not posting this week's Flashback Friday on Friday. This will be another Saturday edition. Hint: Don't get old!

The 1961-62 Fourth Street Junior High Bulldogs basketball team is shown here. The North Little Rock Times published the photograph on February 15, 1962.

Coached by Glenn Fugatt, the team finished 6-8 in conference play among schools in the twin cities.

Identified are (sitting) Lee Schoonover; (kneeling left to right) Eddie Senteney, Harvey Howard, and Paul Bailey; (standing left to right) Ronnie Durham, Jackie Curry, Johnny Black, and Weldon Kissire; (back left to right) Larry Hudgens, Ronnie Ridgell, Gary Stephens, Paul Brown, and James House.

Stephens, a 1965 North Little Rock High School graduate and All-State basketball player, went on to play for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. He is best known today as the “Voice” of the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats athletic teams. Stephens has served as stadium announcer for more than 50 years.

I hope everyone is enjoying this gorgeous fall weather! I know I am! I just hope it hangs around for a while longer. Have a great weekend, everybody!

North Little Rock Tourism

10/09/2026

Yay, it's the day you've all been waiting for! It's Flashback Friday time once again! Wait a minute, I smell steaks!

The Little Joe Special at Bonanza Steak House was a good deal for 98 cents in 1968. The meal came with a 6-ounce ribeye steak, baked potato, Texas toast, and a salad with dressing. The special was good on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only.

The Little Joe Special was advertised often in the North Little Rock Times. The ad here was published on December 5, 1968.

Little Joe Cartwright was the character played by Michael Landon in the hit TV show Bonanza. The chain, which grew to more than 600 restaurants nationally, was founded in 1963 by Dan Blocker, who played Hoss Cartwright. The restaurant emphasized the old west theme of the fictional TV show about Ben Cartwright (Lorne Green) and his three sons, Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss, and Little Joe. The series ran from 1959 to 1973, featuring the Cartwrights, who owned 1,000-square-mile Ponderosa Ranch, near Virginia City, Nevada, in the 1860s and 1870s.

Bonanza Steak House had three restaurants in North Little Rock at 109 East Pershing, 4401 Warden Road, and 7111 JFK. The East Pershing Bonanza opened in October 1967, near the popular Shakey’s Pizza Parlor at 2721 North Poplar. Still standing, the concrete block building at 109 East Pershing was a project of the Bonanza restaurant. The property at this time has a food truck in the parking lot.

By 2001, Bonanza Steak House had left North Little Rock. There are still three operating today, one in Virginia and two in Pennsylvania.

Come to see our new museum and you can learn all kinds of fun, interesting things. We're open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM at the Heritage Center, 506 Main St., North Little Rock, AR. We'll see you there!

Have a great weekend, everybody!

North Little Rock Tourism

10/04/2026

Well, we had technical difficulties yesterday so this week's Flashback Friday post is going to be the Saturday edition. Still as much fun, but just a day late.

The photograph shows a St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern “bridge gang” on the Baring Cross Bridge in 1910. The photo was donated by Walter Havens of North Little Rock. He was longtime railroad man, now deceased.

In 1910, Baring Cross Bridge had a single track. Opened in December 1873, it was the first bridge across the Arkansas River. An upper deck highway bridge was built in 1877 but removed for safety reasons. The highway was rebuilt at track level in 1891 and
closed in 1908.

The Flood of 1927 destroyed the south span of the bridge. It reopened in 1929 with double tracks for rail traffic. From 1969 to 1973, the bridge was shut down for construction of a new lift span to allow barge traffic to pass underneath. To keep the railroad running, a temporary shoo-fly, semi-circular bridge was built immediately downstream from the permanent structure.

The Baring Cross Bridge is still in use today by Union Pacific.

Now, wasn't that worth waiting for?

Have a great weekend, everybody! We'll see you at the museum!

North Little Rock Tourism

09/26/2026

We had a great group of folks from Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, who came to visit our museum yesterday. They all seemed to be fascinated by what they saw, and I think each of them learned something they hadn't known before. We were so happy that they decided to pay us a visit. And they very graciously agreed to pose for a group photo.

We hope that other groups will visit us, as well. All we ask is that you give us a few days' notice, so that we can make sure we have enough volunteers to assist everyone.

We know you will love what you see! Come on in and see what you're missing!

09/26/2026

It's Friday again, and you know what that means. Another Flashback Friday post!

The North Little Rock Heritage Center Museum at 506 Main Street features a temporary exhibit on three businesses that are gone but not forgotten. The exhibit includes photographs and artifacts from Jim’s Roller Rink, Koehler Bakery, and Vestal’s Florist Company.

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, except when closed for a city holiday. The museum is open for Art Walk until 8 p.m. every third Friday. Hours also will be extended for other special events.

Have a great weekend, everybody! Get out and enjoy this beautiful weather and go visit our new museum! You'll be glad you did.

North Little Rock Tourism

09/19/2026

Just in time for the new school year, we have another Flashback Friday post for you.

Marsha Black’s sixth-grade class photograph shows students at their desks at Crestwood Elementary School during 1965-66 school year – the school’s first full year in operation.

Crestwood opened in January 1965 to relieve overcrowding at Lakewood Elementary.

In 2015, the school at 1901 Crestwood Road reopened in a new building.

Have a great weekend, everybody! And don't forget to go see the new museum at the Heritage Center, 506 Main in downtown Argenta. We would love to see you!

North Little Rock Tourism

09/12/2026

A 10-year, 1,600-square-foot "dream" came true Thursday morning in downtown North Little Rock.

Address

506 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR
72114

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15013710755

Website

facebook.com

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