The Capital Hotel was established in January 1877 and remains recognized as “the front porch of Little Rock.”
NEED TO KNOW
- The Capital Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas, which first opened in 1877, was almost torn down before it was preserved.
- The hotel has welcomed prominent individuals such as President Ulysses S. Grant and offers a mix of historical and contemporary architecture.
- Approaching its 150th anniversary, the property continues to be a beloved landmark with strong connections to the local area.
A notable site in the South, which was once scheduled for destruction, is getting ready to mark a significant historical event.
The Capital Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas, remains successful as it approaches its 150th anniversary, yet examining its history shows that this hasn’t always been the situation.
Commonly known as “the front porch of Little Rock,” the Capital Hotel was established in the late 1870s after a neighboring hotel was destroyed by a major fire, according to Micah Vargas, the hotel’s marketing coordinator.Southern LivingIn 1876, efforts to transform the “Denckla Block” mixed-use commercial complex began, and the renovated hotel was first opened to the public in January 1877.
The original plan featured some of the top comforts available back then, such as gas lighting and indoor plumbing, as reported by theHistoric Hotels of America. It soon received enthusiastic reviews and commendation from visitors across the globe.
For many years, the hotel welcomed notable political leaders such as President Ulysses S. Grant. According to a local story, the building’s unusually big elevator was built specifically to transport his horse to his room.
Nevertheless, during the mid-20th century, the entire downtown district of Little Rock experienced financial difficulties, such as those affecting the Capital Hotel.
“They had really planned to demolish the Capital Hotel. It was in a state of disrepair, a place known for its bad reputation, to say the least,” Steven B. Weintz, author ofA Brilliant Concept — An Illustrated History of the Capital HoteltellsSouthern Living“This occurred during a period when people demolished structures under the guise of urban renewal.” At one point, it was almost completely destroyed to construct a parking lot, according to the source.
However, a group of residents joined forces with architect Ed Cromwell to preserve the structure. In 1974, the group managed to include the Capital Hotel on theNational Historic Places RegisterAfter three years of work, the Victorian cast-iron exterior, mosaic tile floors, and the famous stained glass skylight in the lobby were restored. The hotel reopened on Christmas Day in 1983, but it soon faced financial difficulties once more.
Southern Livingreports oilman and banker Jackson T. Stephens took on the role of investor-owner and was later replaced by his son, Ambassador Warren Stephens, and his wife, Harriet. The pair eventually closed and renovated the hotel in 2005 and still maintain its operation to this day.
The hotel has experienced numerous changes and growth, yet it has maintained its unique identity,” Weintz states. “It’s a contemporary hotel, but all the historical preservation features remain undisturbed.
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Currently, the hotel features 94 guest rooms and suites, two dining establishments, stained glass windows, gleaming chandeliers, and the original ironwork exterior. Thewebsiterefers to it as a “distinctive mix of historical appeal and contemporary convenience.”
Everyone in Little Rock has a story about the Capital Hotel,” Vargas says. “So many people from MathHotels.com that I’ve met, their parents got married here or they spent their honeymoon here — everyone has a personal connection to this place.
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