YCGL - Day 21, Saturday, April 20, 2024 - In Search of the Little Rock - Final

Phil and Miriam had a full day of activities planned out.  

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

Little Rock Central High School was the site of the first major test of the Federal Government's right to demand desegregation in American education versus state rights to self determination.  In the fall of 1957, nine black students attempted to attend the all-white Central High School.  

"The controversy in Little Rock was the first fundamental test of the United States resolve to enforce African-American civil rights in the face of massive southern defiance during the period following the Brown v. Board of Education decisions. When President Dwight D. Eisenhower was compelled by white mob violence to use federal troops to ensure the rights of African American children to attend the previously all-white school, he became the first president since the post-Civil War Reconstruction period to use federal troops in support of African American civil rights."  (Click on the paragraph to link to the website.)

Arkansas governor Orval Faubus sent Arkansas National Guard troops to prevent the nine students from entering the high school.  President Eisenhour sent federal troops to escort the  "Little Rock Nine'students into the school on Sept 25, 1957.

Downtown Little Rock

Next, we drove in and around downtown Little Rock.  Then along the Arkansas River in North Little Rock past their daughter Katie's apartment.  We had lunch at Zaza, a favorite pizza and salad place for Miriam and Katie.

Clinton Presidential Center and Park

This large park area includes the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the Clinton Foundation and the University of Arkansas School of Public Service.  The School of Public Service is housed in the depot (1899) of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad, which later became the Rock Island Railroad in 1902.

   

The Library and Museum is full of exhibits, large timelines, full sized reconstructions of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room, displays, we were there almost two hours and we rushed through it.  

Right in front of the Library, there is a beautiful, four segment bridge across the Arkansas River.  Originally a railroad bridge for the Rock Island line, it is now a pedestrian bridge with a raised walkway.

The lift segment is permanently raised, so the walkway is sloped up to it.  Sadly, we didn't have the chance to walk on it.

The River Park 

There is a park along the south side of the Arkansas River that extends for several miles.  We drove to a section with a sculpture garden, a playground and the location of the Little Rock.  I took a bunch of pictures walking through the sculpture garden and I can't find a single one.  We even talked about what were our favorite sculptures and I had at least two pictures of two ballerinas in a modern style that I liked, but poof....  

As we walked through the playground, we hopped on several climbing sculptures and then tried a funny merry-go-round.  

Getting on was not too bad, you kind of had to push off when you stepped up, but getting off took some real thought.  It would have been very easy to land on your keester if you weren't careful.  

Walking back closer to the water, we walked under the Junction Bridge.  It is also a pedestrian/biking bridge now, and it's lift section is also permanently fixed in the raised position.  You can either climb the stairs or take an elevator.  The location of the bridge is important for two reasons.  Historically, it was the location of the shallowest portion of the river during low flow, so it was fordable.  Secondly, when the river was being explored for the first time in 1722 by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste La Harpe, he descibed a large rock outcrop on the north side of the river, which he called the French Rock.  It later became known as the Big Rock.  Down stream and on the south side, there was a smaller rock that became known as the Little Rock where the ford was located.  Finally, when the bridge was constructed, they used the Little Rock as part of the abutment for the bridge, removing most of it for other construction.  (Talk about poor city planning....)

I'm standing on the east side of the Little Rock.  The railing goes along the full extent of the rock to the abutment.  

Having "discovered" the Little Rock, it was time for BBQ at Wright's BBQ.  Of course, I ate too much, but the ribs and brisket were really good!

And then home.  To genealogy!  Miriam's parents were interested in genealogy, I think at least in part because of my cousin Bob Heckman, who lived in Conroe and was active at Grace Lutheran.  AT some point, it was determined that Lien's and the Edgar's were related through ancestors in Nes, Norway.  

So, Miriam and I are 5th cousins through Jack Lien and Orpha Viken, my mom.  We really got into it that night.  Phil took some pictures to document our documentation.  

It was a great ending to a great day!  Thanks!!!