The Building Of The Arkansas State Capitol 1899 1915

To the present generation of Arkansans the capitol building in Little Rock is what most capitol buildings are supposed to be; the symbol of state government, the repository of political and legal administration, the seat at civil authority. The building has the appearance of many other state capitols in America. Colossal in size and yet trim in its lines, it overlooks the city in all directions. Its beautiful, well-kept grounds are the pride of Arkansas, while the historical markers that stand on the front lawn remind us of her people's sentiment for the state's history. But the Arkansas State Capitol has a history at its own, a history that cannot be written in terms of architectural design, of tons of concrete poured, or of setting stone upon stones. Rather its history was written against the flamboyant and often ruthless tide of Southern politics characterizing the first two decades of the twentieth century. Its story can but be told in terms of personalities, of ambitions, of politics, and of graft and corruption is an age dominated by such colorful political figures as Daniel Jones, Jeff Davis, George Donaghey, and Joe T. Robinson.