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Our Story
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Our Story

Celebrating 150 Years

For over a century, the Capital Hotel has proudly stood in downtown Little Rock as the city’s central gathering place. These halls have laid witness to presidential visits, grand weddings, and a number of fine society gatherings. When you seek a place of gracious hospitality, timeless style, and southern comfort, the Capital Hotel is where to go.

The Highlights

  • 94 Guest Rooms & Suites
  • Two Restaurants
  • Personalized Check-In with Concierge Escort
  • Original Cast-Iron Facade
  • Marbled Columns
  • Stained Glass Windows
  • Sparkling Chandeliers
  • Mezzanine and Outdoor Balcony
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The Capital Hotel of Little Rock, Arkansas, is uniquely beautiful, with its cast -iron façade and marble lobby, its high-ceilinged rooms, and its rich history. Since its opening in 1876, it has been the stage for the struggles, schemes, and dreams of generations of politicians, debutantes, businesspeople, and newlyweds. A wide variety of owners and visionaries have shaped the hotel’s fortunes, including the Yankee entrepreneur who raised its walls, the Italian immigrant family who kept it going in its worst days, the architect who envisioned new life in its venerable bones, and the financiers and craftsmen who brought the Capital to its current glory as a luxury hotel.

This lavishly illustrated volume—published by the University of Arkansas Press & recently updated to celebrate the hotel’s 150th anniversary—traces the building’s lively history, from its origins as a commercial hub to its spectacular renovation into a jewel of downtown Little Rock. Signed copies are available for purchase at our front desk, or by clicking the link below.

Link to Purchase
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History Timeline The Front Porch
of Little Rock

Today, the Capital Hotel remains the most significant structure of its kind in the state of Arkansas. It stands as a symbol of timeless elegance, offering guests a unique blend of historical charm and modern comfort. The hotel continues to be a proud centerpiece of downtown Little Rock, welcoming visitors with the same warmth and grandeur that have defined it for over a century.

History Timeline A Society Hub

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Capital Hotel established itself as a hub of elegance and high society. Its grand halls and luxurious rooms attracted notable guests, including politicians, celebrities, and business magnates. The hotel’s impeccable service and opulent decor made it the preferred lodging for those seeking comfort and sophistication in Little Rock.

History Timeline The Birth of the Capital Hotel

When a massive fire destroyed the neighboring Metropolitan Hotel in 1876, the entire Denckla Block was transformed into a boutique hotel, with plans of expanding the building. To christen the hotel, Major Adams chose a name suggested by Mrs. Morehead Wright. She recommended it be called the “Capital Hotel,” for it was, in her words, “a capital enterprise located in a capital building, and I am certain it will be a capital success.”

History Timeline Industrious Beginnings

Following the South’s postwar economic boom in the late 1800s, railroad tycoon William P. Denckla had the grand idea of building a block of businesses, offices, and "bachelor’s quarters” in downtown Little Rock, steps from the capitol building. The enterprise was a success, and the building’s grand facade quickly became a centerpiece of downtown Little Rock when it was constructed in 1872. Save a few additions made over the years, the original cast-iron facade is still in use today.

Exquisite Extras