Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

Exhibits, films, restrooms and a bookstore are located in the National Park Visitor Center.
In 1957, Little Rock Central High School was the epicenter of confrontation and a catalyst for change as the fundamental test for the United States to enforce African American civil rights following Brown v. Board of Education. Learn how the sacrifice and struggle endured by the Little Rock Nine have provided opportunities and opened doors for those seeking education around the world.
Map showing location of park.
A promotional flyer for “First Tuesdays Poetry Night: Tribute to Nikki Giovanni” on January 7, 2025, at The Loony Bin. The flyer features a grayscale image of Nikki Giovanni smiling, with yellow and white text detailing event information.
Remembering Nikki Giovanni
First Tuesdays Poetry Night will honor the late Nikki Giovanni on January 7, 2025.
A professional portrait of a man with fair skin and light freckles. He is smiling warmly and wearing a green herringbone suit, a darker green shirt, and a yellow tie with a geometric pattern featuring blue and red accents.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian Taylor Branch to present in the NPS Speaker Series
Author and historian Taylor Branch will speak as part of the NPS Speaker Series on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. CST in Little Rock. The event, a partner program hosted at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, will highlight Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting impact on American society.
A promotional flyer for the Freedom and Heritage Literary Series event, titled “Mobilizing and Energizing Parental Engagement,” featuring special guest Dr. Janice Johnson-Dias. The event is scheduled for December 12, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM CST
Freedom and Heritage Literary Series announces December 2024 Public Program
Dr. Johnson-Dias will inspire attendees with insights on raising purposeful and resilient children while energizing the parental role in community engagement.
Smiling woman with short, curly gray hair wearing a patterned blouse, standing in front of colorful artwork and a white wall.
Phyllis Brown to present on her life of social activism - "A Brown Sister Speaks"
Phyllis Brown is a lifelong advocate for equality and justice. Educated in Little Rock’s segregated public schools, she went on to earn a B.S. in Mass Communication from Southern Illinois University. A former member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Brown has dedicated her life to social activism, education, and the arts, using her voice to speak truth to power. Phyllis’s sister, Minnijean Brown Trickey, is one of the Little Rock Nine.
“Portrait of Dr. Brian Mitchell, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and a red and blue striped tie. He has glasses, a short beard, and a serious expression, standing in front of a blurred background.
Dr. Brian Mitchell to present "A Conversation on the Elaine Massacre"
The program will examine the catalysts behind the Elaine Massacre of 1919, providing detailed accounts of the events and exploring how and why knowledge of the massacre was suppressed. It will also highlight primary sources to educate attendees about the racialized violence of the Red Summer, offering a forum to discuss the massacre’s lasting impact on our national history.
The front facade of Little Rock Central High School
Photo by NPS Photo
National Park Visitor Center
Photo by National Park Service
Fall colors in the commemorative garden
Photo by NPS Photo
a replica of a 1950s bus bench with Central High School in the background
Photo by NPS Photo
The Little Rock Nine exit the doors at Central High under troop escort
Photo by Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
The Magnolia Mobil Gas Station, a white stucco facility with terracotta roof
Photo by NPS Photo