Brimming with historical and social significance, it’s no wonder the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is Central Arkansas’s No. 1 attraction.

The beauty of Little Rock Central High School’s Art Deco and Collegiate Gothic architecture belies an uncomely past.

In September 1957, nine African-American teenagers faced a vicious white mob as they attempted to integrate.

(Sponsor Daisy Bates shown in top row, second from right.)

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was forced to deploy troops to escort them the next day.

These brave students, who helped galvanize the civil rights movement, are honored at the National Historic Site Visitor Center & Museum.

Ranger-led tours are the best way to experience the site.

The restored Magnolia/Mobile Gas Station across the street was a temporary office for reporters during the desegregation crisis. It’s now an education center.

Visit the fully restored Daisy Bates House at 1208 W. 28th Street, where the Little Rock Nine met to coordinate efforts to integrate Central High School.

Located on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol, a memorial sculpture honors these brave students and reminds Arkansans of their impact.