Arkansas River Trail in Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
A Piece of the Rock, a Piece of History
La Petite Roche Historical Walk
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018
1. A Piece of the Rock, a Piece of History Marker
Inscription.
A Piece of the Rock, a Piece of History. La Petite Roche Historical Walk. The Little Rock was not always as it is now. To support the Junction Bridge and ensure an adequate channel for river traffic, much of the Rock was removed in 1872 and 1884. No one knows how the Point of Rocks looked before progress took its toll. In 1932, the Civitan Club sought to promote the Rock as a historic site, but the railroad tracks around it, which had obliterated Hell's Half Acre, discouraged tourists. The Club's solution was to remove and transport a piece of the Little Rock a more accessible spot. A 4,700-pound piece was detached and moved to the grounds of City Hall. A time capsule was placed inside of it. In 2009, this piece of the Rock was returned to the banks of the Arkansas River. As the marker of the settlement plateau, location of the riverboat landing, pier of an economically vital railroad bridge and namesake of the municipality, the Little Rock could be considered the foundation of the city, but its lack of physical prominence - it is a "little" rock and smaller than it used to be - impeded a grand presentation of its historical importance until La Petite Roche Plaza was constructed in 2010.
The Little Rock was not always as it is now. To support
the Junction Bridge and ensure an adequate channel for
river traffic, much of the Rock was removed in 1872 and
1884. No one knows how the Point of Rocks looked
before progress took its toll. In 1932, the Civitan Club
sought to promote the Rock as a historic site, but the
railroad tracks around it, which had obliterated Hell's
Half Acre, discouraged tourists. The Club's solution
was to remove and transport a piece of the Little Rock
a more accessible spot. A 4,700-pound piece was
detached and moved to the grounds of City Hall. A
time capsule was placed inside of it. In 2009, this piece
of the Rock was returned to the banks of the Arkansas
River. As the marker of the settlement plateau, location
of the riverboat landing, pier of an economically vital
railroad bridge and namesake of the municipality, the
Little Rock could be considered the foundation of the
city, but its lack of physical prominence - it is a "little"
rock and smaller than it used to be - impeded a grand
presentation of its historical importance until La Petite
Roche Plaza was constructed in 2010.
• Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Time Capsules series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.
Location. 34° 44.937′ N, 92° 15.985′ W. Marker is in Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County. It is in Arkansas River Trail. Marker can be reached from President Clinton Avenue. Located in Riverfront Park near Junction Bridge along the Arkansas Riverfront Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock AR 72201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 360 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
