Little Rock Central High School

Little Rock Central High School

In 1957, nine African-American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, were denied entrance to the school in defiance of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering integration of public schools.

Built in 1927 at a cost of $1.5 million, Little Rock Senior High School, later to be renamed Little Rock Central High, was hailed as the most expensive, most beautiful, and largest high school in the nation.

The denial to allow the Little Rock Nine to enter the school provoked a showdown between the Governor, Orval Faubus, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower that gained international attention. The event was important in America's Civil Rights Movement.

The high school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1977, and was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 20, 1982. On November 6, 1998, Congress established Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.

The National Historic Site is administered in partnership with the National Park Service, Little Rock Public Schools, the City of Little Rock, and others.

In 2006, Little Rock Central High was ranked by Newsweek as the 20th best high school in the nation.

Location

Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive (14th Street) and Park Street
Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
USA

Getting There

Here are some ways to get there depending on your starting location:

If you are coming from the north, take I-40 or I-55 southbound until you reach I-630 in Little Rock. Take exit 139A for I-630 eastbound and follow it until you reach exit 2B for South Park Street. Turn right onto South Park Street and follow it until you reach West 14th Street. Turn left onto West 14th Street and follow it until you reach Little Rock Central High School, which will be on your right.

If you are coming from the south, take I-30 or US-65 northbound until you reach Little Rock. Take exit 139B for I-630 westbound and follow it until you reach exit 2B for South Park Street. Turn left onto South Park Street and follow it until you reach West 14th Street. Turn left onto West 14th Street and follow it until you reach Little Rock Central High School, which will be on your right.

If you are coming from the west, take I-40 eastbound until you reach Little Rock. Then, take exit 153B for I-430 southbound and follow it until you reach exit 5 for I-630 eastbound. Follow I-630 until you reach exit 2B for South Park Street. Turn right onto South Park Street and follow it until you reach West 14th Street. Turn left onto West 14th Street and follow it until you reach Little Rock Central High School, which will be on your right.

If you are coming from the east, take I-40 westbound until you reach Little Rock. Then, take exit 153 for I-430 southbound and follow it until you reach exit 5 for I-630 eastbound. Follow I-630 until you reach exit 2B for South Park Street. Turn right onto South Park Street and follow it until you reach West 14th Street. Turn left onto West 14th Street and follow it until you reach Little Rock Central High School, which will be on your right.

There is a parking lot available for visitors at Little Rock Central High School. I hope this helps you get to your destination!

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Arkansas that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.