Rediscover the rich heritage of Little Rock through its lost
architectural treasures as told by Ray Hanley, a lifelong Arkansan and
resident of Little Rock.
Little Rock is a sprawling city of about 200,000 at the center of a
metropolitan area of more than 500,000 people, with many residing in
bedroom communities in adjoining counties. Arkansas's capital city is
much like the rest of Middle America with its outlying suburbs, gated
communities, and shopping centers miles from the historic core. A
century ago, however, Little Rock was markedly different and served a
population of fewer than 50,000. The majority of citizens lived within
blocks of the town center and did business downtown along rows of shops
that, in many cases, dated to the late 1800s. Images of America: Lost
Little Rock uses vintage photographs to reflect upon earlier times and
the rich retail landscape that once filled the town. By exploring the
legacies of buildings that have since been demolished, repurposed, or
destroyed by fire, these images provide a sense of Little Rock's
lesser-known heritage.