River Market Attractions & Sightseeing
The River Market is home to many Little Rock landmarks, like the William J. Clinton Presidential Center & Park, Heifer International's Headquarters as well as many outdoor offerings and other museum and cultural attractions. With so much to see and do, plan to stay awhile.
Points of Interest
Arkansas Studies Institute
401 President Clinton Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201
The state's largest free-standing facility dedicated to the study of Arkansas. Here students, scholars, citizens, and visitors interested in Arkansas history can gather to learn more about the people, places, and events that shaped the state's past and guide its future. The expanded research resources include the papers of seven Arkansas governors, as well several hundred additional collections. The ASI is also home to the Butler Center's Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, a rich online source of information about the state.
Central Arkansas Library System Main Library
100 Rock Street Little Rock, AR 72201
The Main Library, the flagship of the Central Arkansas Library System, is housed in the renovated Fones Brothers Warehouse in the historic River Market District. The third site for the library, a 132,000-square-foot facility, opened at 100 Rock Street in 1997. The Main Library offers patrons thousands of books and resource materials for children and adults. It is also home to the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and the Sturgis Center for Technology Training.
Heifer International Headquarters and Heifer Village
1 World Avenue Little Rock, AR 72202
Heifer International is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and caring for the earth by providing livestock, trees, training and other resources to assist struggling families, towns and villages around the globe. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 7 million
families in more than 125 countries improve their quality of life and become more self-reliant. Headquartered in Little Rock, the new Heifer International Center reflects Heifer's dedication to sustainability in every square foot of its Platinum LEED building. Heifer Village, which includes the Murphy Keller Education Center, is a place where visitors, staff, volunteers, and the international development community can come together to learn more about world hunger, poverty, solutions currently being employed to combat those problems, and Heifer's mission to seek solutions in the worldwide effort to end hunger and poverty.
Historic Arkansas Museum
200 E. Third Street Little Rock, AR 72201
Take time to tour the state's oldest neighborhood, where medicine came from the herb garden and the newspaper was printed on a hand-operated press. Historic Arkansas Museum celebrates Arkansas's cultural and material heritage with six galleries of Arkansas art and artifacts, an interactive children's gallery, Orientation Theater, museum store with Arkansas products and more. Four original Little Rock dwellings on the museum's grounds provide the setting as expert tour guides describe life on the Arkansas frontier and costumed Living History actors portray early Arkansans.
H.U. Lee International Gate and Garden
1 Statehouse Plaza Little Rock, AR 72201 Attached to the Statehouse Convention Center
The H.U. Lee International Gate and Garden is an oasis of Korean culture, in the heart of downtown Little Rock. The gate and garden are not only tributes to Eternal Grandmaster H.U. Lee, founder of American Taekwondo Association, but also educates people about South Korea and salutes the Martial Arts.
Julius Breckling Riverfront Park
200 Ottenheimer Plaza Little Rock, AR
Julius Breckling Riverfront Park stretches eleven blocks on the south bank of the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock. Riverfront Park provides large areas for outdoor events, leisure activities and a glimpse of the state's history. It is a truly unique urban park with many offerings for youth, adults, residents and visitors alike. Additional information about all of the park's offerings is detailed below.
Arkansas River Trail
Currently over 17 miles of beautiful trails and walking paths, the Arkansas River Trail, allows the sister cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock to connect people, enabling them to walk or cycle. Part of the Arkansas River Trail loops through Riverfront Park, and includes the Junction Bridge, one of the connecting walking bridges between Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Art Along the River
Stroll through River Front Park and let your mind and soul become enriched by the many works of art placed along the path to the Clinton Presidential Center. Inspired by the themes of President Clinton's acceptance speech at the 1996 Democratic convention, these sculptures (including "Touch the Sky", "Eagle of the Rock", and "Harriet Tubman" to name a few), illustrate our pride, common values, and wonderful quality of life in Central Arkansas.
Civil War Marker
Located in Riverfront Park, this is the location where the main body of Steele's army entered Little Rock on September 11, 1863 with the 3rd Minnesota Regiment in the vanguard, crossing the river on a pontoon bridge at the approximate location of the present day Main Street Bridge.
Junction Bridge
As an integral part of the Six Bridges skyline and riverfront development in both Little Rock and North Little Rock, the Junction Railroad Bridge, for pedestrian and bicycle use, links both sides of the Arkansas River Trail. Access to the bridge is via a walkway (handicap accessible) directly behind the River Market Pavilions on the Little Rock side and from Washington Street near the Verizon Arena on the North Little Rock side.
La Petit Roche Plaza
Benard de la Harpe, who is believed to have traveled about 50 miles upstream from the present sites of Little Rock and North Little Rock, described the area when writing about his journey. He noted a landmark on the north bank of the Arkansas River, which he referred to as the "French Rock" (now known as "big rock"). The first outcropping of rock along the riverbanks above its mouth on the south bank came to be known as the "Little Rock." Located in Riverfront Park, relive history and discover the La Petit Roche.
Peabody Park, An Adventure in Play!
Located west of the Junction Bridge and north of the Wellness Walkway in Riverfront Park,
Peabody Park is a unique play environment made possible by a generous contribution from the Peabody Hotel Group. Designed with help from children, it encourages imagination, exploration and discovery. Some of its many wondrous features include several outdoor and underground tunnels, large native stones for climbing, a spray pad, large slide, and the Ozark Pavilion.
Click here to read an essay about Peabody Park written by Dr. Dean Kumpuris.
Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden
This dynamic garden is located east of the Peabody Hotel near the Forever a Rose Garden and the Jack Fleischauer Garden. It has become the recent home of seven new pieces that will join a dozen other sculptures in the park and along President Clinton Avenue that have been installed since 2004. The sculpture garden features natural terraces and walkways. There is a space to host receptions, weddings or other events as well as to allow visitors to enjoy the sculptures in solitude. The sculpture garden is made possible through the support of the Vogel Schwartz Foundation.
Museum of Discovery
500 President Clinton Avenue, Suite 150 Little Rock, AR 72201
At the Museum of Discovery visitors may explore the wonders of nature, science, technology and history. Build a robot at the Tech Lab, create crafts at the Imagination Station, learn about Arkansas's rich Native American history, discover the principles of light, electricity, and magnetism, explore the major parts of the body in the Health Hall or learn about forestry through Worlds of the Forest. Electric shows available on weekends.
Ottenheimer Market Hall
400 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, AR 72201
The Ottenheimer Market Hall is the central heartbeat of the River Market District. With an eclectic mix of cuisine, coffee and snacks, casual seating and complementary wi-fi, patrons and local residents enjoy spending time in the market hall. It offers an international and diverse medley of owner-operated shops and stalls with everything from barbecue to sweet delights to tacos and pot stickers. No matter if you're looking for something authentic to take home for dinner or just stopping by for lunch, you'll discover there is a wide selection of food that crosses the globe. So, if you've got a taste for unique foods, the Ottenheimer Market Hall is the place to be!
River Rail Electric Street Car Trolley
Central Arkansas Transit Authority
See the sights in downtowns Little Rock and North Little Rock with ease aboard a historic replica streetcar trolley. Making several stops in both cities, you will love the scenic route which covers the River Market District in Little Rock and the Argenta District in North Little Rock. Fares vary and kids under 5 ride FREE! You can purchase trolley passes at Shop the Rock, located on the corner of Commerce & President Clinton Ave.
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
1200 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, AR 72201
The only graduate school in the nation offering a Master of Public Service degree, The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service helps students gain knowledge and experience to further their careers in the areas of nonprofit, governmental, volunteer or private sector work. Their distinguished speakers' series offers free public programs that cover topics ranging from politics to pop culture. Some of their guest speakers include Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright; Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; Senator Bob Dole; actors John Lithgow and Sam Waterston; Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai; President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and journalists Gwen Ifill, Bob Woodward, Diane Rehm and George Stephanopoulos, among many others.
William J. Clinton Presidential Center & Park
1200 President Clinton Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201
Experience the nation's newest and most innovative presidential library which also houses the largest collection of presidential artifacts in history. The Clinton Presidential Center and Park include the Clinton Presidential Library, the University of Arkansas - Clinton School of Public Service, and the Clinton Presidential Foundation, Little Rock office. In addition to the archival collection and research facilities, the library features interactive exhibits, replicas of 
the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room, and other educational opportunities. Permanent exhibits utilizing photographs, videos and interactive stations include a 100-foot-long timeline presenting the day-to-day work of the President and alcoves highlighting domestic and foreign policy efforts and achievements. Traveling exhibits to the library have included, the Emancipation Proclamation, White House in Miniature, Art of the Chopper, Peter Max Paints America, and many others.
Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center
500 President Clinton Avenue, Suite 216 Little Rock, AR 72201
The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center is focused on the wide variety 
of outdoor recreational opportunities that Arkansas's fish and wildlife resources provide. The location along the Arkansas River allows many viewable wildlife activities within an urban area. Basking water turtles, butterflies and migrating pelicans are common sights. A portion of the Arkansas River Trail crosses the site, offering more options for exploration. The grounds of the center include beds of native plants found throughout the state, while the main building includes an exhibit hall, aquariums, gift shop, theater and special educational programs.
Click here for a complete listing of Little Rock Attractions
