The Old State House Museum

The Old State House Museum will travel back to 1836 with the Statehood Celebration living history event from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (June 12). Admission is free.

Visitors can explore the pasttimes of Arkansans at the time of statehood and experience live music, theater, gambling, religious fervor, and public justice as forms of entertainment. Participants can revel with a traveling theater troupe, watch a recreation of a real trial, experience a frontier camp meeting and try their luck with the Faro dealer. Period games and hands-on activities will be available for children.

Event schedule:

  • 10 a.m.: Music from Clear the Way, a Texas-based performance group specializing in music that was popular in the 1830s
  • 11 a.m.: Camp Meeting
  • Noon: Pulaski County Lyceum
  • 1 p.m.: Trial
  • 2 p.m.: Music from Clear the Way 
  • 3 p.m.: Little Rock Thalian Club (amateur drama troupe)

The Statehood Celebration will feature recreated events like lectures and debates held by the Pulaski County Lyceum during the 1830s. Visitors will also be introduced to the Thalian Club, an organization of young Little Rock men presenting popular plays -- mainly farces and comedies -- to audiences during the mid-1830s.

The celebration will take place on the Old State House lawn. Call (501) 324-9685 or click here for more information.