Downtown in Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Zeb Ward Building
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022
1. Zeb Ward Building Marker
is listed in the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location. 34° 44.971′ N, 92° 16.882′ W. Marker is in Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of West Markham Street and South Chester Street, on the right when traveling east on West Markham Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 W Markham St, Little Rock AR 72201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Quapaw Homeland. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ward-Hays House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Isaac Homard House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Leiper-Scott House (approx. Ό mile away); Pulaski County (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dedicated to You, A Free Citizen in a Free Land (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Testament" (approx. half a mile away); To The Confederate Women of Arkansas (approx. half a mile away); First Missionary Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Little Rock.
Regarding Zeb Ward Building. Excerpt from the National Register
this page online
Constructed in 1881, the Zeb Ward Building, is an example of a late 19th Century commercial structure. It is particularly noteworthy for its builder, Zeb Ward, who was lessee of the old Arkansas State Penitentiary. Ward built five houses on the south side of the block fronting on West 2nd Street for his five sons and four commercial buildings on the north side of the block fronting West Markham. Three of the houses and three of the commercial buildings are extant; this 1881 structure being one of the most prominent. It is believed that this commercial building was constructed by prison labor using bricks made in the prison yard. In the century since its construction, the Zeb Ward Building has served several functions and uses such as a drugstore, grocery, meeting hall, library and hotel.
Also see . . . Zeb Ward Building (PDF). National Register nomination for the building, which was listed in 1978. (National Archives) (Submitted on November 26, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022
2. Zeb Ward Building Marker
via Arkansas History Commission (Public Domain)
3. Zebulon Ward (1822-1884)
Besides leasing prisons, he also developed Little Rock's first waterworks system, served as president of a railroad, and was a state legislator in his native Kentucky.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 26, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
