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Central High School National Historic Site

On the morning of September 23, 1957 nine African-American teenagers stood up to an angry crowd protesting integration in front of Little Rock's Central High as they entered the school for the first time. This event, broadcast around the world, made Little Rock the site of the first important test of the U.S. Supreme Court's historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.

The Basics

Hours:

The visitor center is open year-round from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Saturday, and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Sunday. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Address:

2125 Daisy Bates Drive
Little Rock, AR 72202

Phone:

501-374-1957

Phone:

501-374-3067

Fax:

501-376-4728

Directions

From Interstate 40 Eastbound
Take Interstate 430 South to Interstate 630 East. Exit and turn right onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Travel approximately 4 blocks and turn right onto Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. Little Rock Central High School is located at the intersection of Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive and Park Street. The visitor center is located in a restored Mobil service station, across the street from the high school.

From Interstate 40 westbound
Take Interstate 30 West across the Arkansas River. Merge onto Interstate 630 West and exit onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Travel approximately four blocks and turn right onto Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. The park visitor center is located in a restored Mobil service station at the intersection of Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive and Park Street.

From Interstate 30 Eastbound
Take Interstate 430 north to Interstate 630 East toward downtown Little Rock. Exit and turn right onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Proceed approximately four blocks and turn right onto Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. The visitor center is located in a restored Mobil service station at the intersection of Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive and Park Street.

Climate

Little Rock has a climate typical of the upper South. Temperatures average from a mean low of 40° Fahrenheit in January to a mean high of 81° Fahrenheit in July. However, summer temperatures can reach into the 90's and exceed 100° while winter temperatures can dip below freezing.

Link to our Little Rock Weather coverage for more information.

Fees

No Fees.

Reservations

Reservations required for groups and to tour the school.

Things To Do

The visitor center includes a permanent exhibit on the 1957 desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School and a bookstore. Visitors are welcome to explore the center, the Commemorative Garden, and the neighborhood on their own. Rangers are available at the information desk to answer questions and provide an introduction to the exhibits. In addition, rangers conduct special programs throughout the summer and the school year. Please call (501) 374-1957 for more information or see the schedule of events for a list of upcoming programs.

Rangers offer guided tours of the high school by reservation only. These tours are limited to groups of 10 or more and must be reserved at least two weeks in advance. The school is an operating high school, so visitors are not allowed to tour the school on their own.

Guided Tours

Ranger-led tours of Little Rock Central High School are offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the school year at 9:15 a.m. and at 1:00 p.m. The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes.

The school remains an operating high school, so please respect the needs of the students and faculty. Please do not bring food or drinks, cell phones, large purses or backpacks into the school.

Tours may be scheduled at other times for visiting school groups. Please call at least 2 weeks in advance to schedule a group tour. For more information, please call 501-374-1957.

Join park rangers for a guided bicycle tour of Little Rock sites related to the 1957 desegregation crisis of Central High School. Tours are offered on weekends in the spring and early summer.

Participants must bring their own bikes, helmets, water, and any other necessary gear. Riders under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Nearby Attractions

Five other National Park sites are located in Arkansas. They are:

Arkansas Post National Memorial
Buffalo National River
Fort Smith National Historic Site
Hot Springs National Park
Pea Ridge National Military Park

In addition, parts of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail pass through Arkansas. Visit the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock.

Link to our Little Rock Attractions coverage for more information.

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