I stumbled upon the Arkansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial on a warm afternoon while walking the…read moreCapitol grounds in Little Rock. I wasn't planning to stop long -- just a quiet moment to look, maybe read a few names. But something about the stillness of the place pulled me in. The memorial sits in a gentle curve of granite, every stone etched with names of Arkansans lost or missing in Vietnam -- over 600 of them. I found myself reading them one by one, unsure why, but feeling like each deserved a moment. At the center stands a bronze soldier, rifle in hand, eyes fixed on something distant -- maybe home, maybe peace, maybe a friend long gone. He looks tired, but proud. There were no crowds. Just me, a few flowers tucked into the stone, and the faint rustling of the flag overhead. I thought about how young most of those names probably were. How their stories ended far from home, and how this quiet corner of Arkansas keeps them close. It's not flashy. It doesn't need to be. It's powerful because it's simple -- and honest. The kind of place that makes you stop, breathe, and remember.

This is a nice tribute to the Arkansas Vietnam veterans and provides a fitting honor for those…read morebrave warriors. The Memorial was designed by John William Deering and was dedicated in 1987. You will find it on the grounds of the State Capitol, along the street. The center piece of the memorial is a sculpture titled The Grunt and depicts a Vietnam solider with a determined and triumphant look, carrying his helmet in his left hand and his rifle in his right. The memorial also has a semicircle labyrinth of 16 marble panels that are engraved with the names of the State's Vietnam Vets. This memorial creates a nice plaza area that pays it respects and is solemn. There are benches around the statue that you can sit and reflect. This is the site of many Veterans functions too. It has the feel of the National Vietnam Memorial in DC, but on a smaller scale. It is well maintained and definitely worth a visit. You can not miss it. Just look for the two flag poles waving the American flag and state flag. I am glad that the men and women that served in Vietnam having being getting their due appreciation. This has not always been the case and many felt abandoned and unappreciated for the sacrifices that they made. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance from here. However, most of the close street parking is reserved. Anyway, as with most monuments and memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The Capitol has a lot of memorials, monuments and statues on its grounds to visit and you can also take a tour of the Capitol building if they are open.

Beginning in 2011, the Anderson Institute of Race & Ethnicity at the University of Arkansas at…read moreLittle Rock identified a mile of important significant sites in Little Rock's Civil Rights Movement. It starts just outside the Old State House and has plans of running all the way to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Along the trail are the Central High School National Historic Site, Clinton Presidential Center, Daisy Bates House, Little Rock Nine Memorial & the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. There are 12-inch bronze markers embedded in the sidewalk along the trail for each honoree. The trail also inducts honorees under themes for that year. Some of the themes included Sit-in & Freedom Rides, Desegregation of Central High School, Politics and Law, & the Elaine 12. In 2016, the trail won a Diamond Award from the Arkansas Historical Association, "for honoring and increasing public awareness of the freedom struggle in Arkansas." In 2019, it was named part of the US Civil Rights Trail.

This trail, which began in 2011, is the brain child of the Anderson Institute of Race and Ethnicity…read moreat the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (try saying that ten times, fast) and is a constantly expanding collection of honoring and acknowledging sites in the city that that hold significance to the Civil Rights Movement. It starts just outside the Old State House and has plans of running all the way to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. It spans about a mile. Sites that you will find along the trail include Central High School National Historic Site, Clinton Presidential Center, Daisy Bates House, Little Rock Nine Memorial, and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. The trail inducts honorees under themes for that year. Some of the themes included Sit-in and Freedom Rides (2011), Desegregation of Central High School (2012), Politics and Law (2015), The Elaine 12 (2019) and In addition to the aforementioned sites, you will find 12-inch bronze markers embedded in the sidewalk along the trail for each honoree. An induction ceremony is held each year for that year's honorees. The markers are in fair shape, but that is pretty good considered that they are constantly getting stepped on and are exposed to the elements. The trail won a Diamond Award from the Arkansas Historical Association, in 2016, "for honoring and increasing public awareness of the freedom struggle in Arkansas." Additionally, in 2019, it was named part of the US Civil Rights Trail. It is a nice little trail that you can have a nice little stroll on. It's honorees are lesser known names, but still vital to the civil rights movement and I am glad that they are honoring them. If you have some time. I recommend taking this 2-mile round trip trail while getting some exercise, learning a bit, and getting some fresh air.

I visited the Arkansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on a quiet morning, and its simplicity hit…read moreharder than any grand monument. A curved wall of black granite holds the names of officers who died in the line of duty -- each one a story, a family, a sacrifice. No towering statue, just silence, flags, and names. It felt deeply personal. You can almost picture the ceremonies, the families standing where you stand now. It's not political -- it's human. A place to pause, remember, and reflect on the real cost of service.

You will find this memorial on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol. It was appropriated to…read morehonor those law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the performance of their duties for the people of this state. It memorializes the names of police and county officers, state police officers, federal officers, and constables who died while on duty. It was dedicated in 1994 and as of 2020, there were 261 names on the Memorial's wall. It is a simple Memorial with a low granite wall, about 3 feet tall, with names of the fallen inscribed in black granite. The back side of the memorial is some well landscaped hedges that are also in a semi-circle shape and together with the wall, forms a circle. In the center, between the wall and hedges is a tall flag pole that has the American and State flag hanging from it. It always does my heart proud when I see military, police and firefighters honored. This is simple, but impactful memorial and every year the state hosts a ceremony remember those brave officers that were killed during that year. Well, as with most monuments and memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The Capitol has a lot of other memorials, monuments and statues on its grounds to visit and you can also take a tour of the Capitol building if they are open. Fun fact: It took nearly two hours to read the 149 names then inscribed on the monument during its dedication.

This Memorial is located in MacArthur Park, right next to the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military…read moreHistory. It was dedicated in 2007 on 57th anniversary date of the beginning of the Korean War It is very nice and considered one of the nations best Korean War Memorials. The memorial consists of granite panels with the names of 461 Arkansans killed in the Korean War You will also find interesting and informative information about the Korean War on those panels. The memorial features a set of sculptures, a couple of soldiers, One of which is interacting with two Korean children while the other is on guard. The sculptures are the work of David and Bre Harris. The statues were designed with symbolism in mind. One of the solider statues represent the fighting that took place in South Korea to stop the spread of communism. The sculpture of the two Korean children represents the suffering of the Korean people during the war. The sculpture of the other solider interacting with the kids, honors the brave sacrifices that Combat Medics and Navy Corpsmen made to save the lives of others during this conflict. The memorial also features a 3-foot black granite pentagon with the emblems of the five military branches engraved in it; an awesome 12-foot tall granite entryway, and some granite benches to sit and reflect. It should be interesting to note that most of the funding for the memorial came from the Republic of Korea as a way of showing appreciation and honor the veterans that fought and died for their freedom. It is a very attention getting memorial and is well planned and put together. I really liked this memorial. The Korean War does not get as much love as many of the other wars that the US has been in. There is parking available within a reasonable walking distance to/from the memorial. Anyway, as with most monuments and memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I recommend checking out the Park and all that it has to offer, along with the military museum.

An amazing piece of Americana that has been rehabilitated for use as a substation for the Sherwood…read morePolice Station. Not only is there nothing else like it in Sherwood, there's nothing else like it in Arkansas! If you haven't been to see the Roundtop, especially if you love vintage gas stations and unique architecture, make a trip to see it!

The memorial was originally located at MacArthur Park and was moved to its current location in…read moreNorth Shore Riverwalk Park. The memorial features a Mark 14 torpedo surrounded by granite tablets. One marker gives a brief summary of the submarines career. Another provides information on the submarines lost and presumed final area. A third panel list the crew members names that lost their lives. The other markers are more generic to the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II and not specific to the Snook and include a panel that lists all the submarines lost during WWII, including the Snook, A summary of the accomplishments of American submarines during World War II. and a brief summary of total crewman aboard American submarines that died during World War II. The memorial is dedicated to one of the 52 US submarines that were lost during the World War II, the USS Snook (SS-279). Each state has at least one memorial for a specific submarine that was lost. The memorial was commissioned by the Arkansas Diamond Chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II. The Snook was last heard from on April 8, 1945, in the South China Sea. After over a month of no communication, the sub was declared overdue and presumed lost with all hands-on May 16, 1945. This is a nice memorial that is fittingly located across from the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum which features the submarine USS Razorback (SS-394). I like the ambitious project that this memorial is a part of and anyone that follows me know I am partial to paying respect to those heroes that served. Anyway, as with most memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The nearby Riverwalk Park and the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum would be a great start.

I love a covered bridge and this one is lovely. It is a bit modern, completed in 1963 and spanning…read morea small creek. I was pleased to see that it is still open to vehicular traffic. I had no problem with my Sprinter van making our way across and back. The bridge is a covered steel stringer bridge and is just one lane. But still awesome! [Review 2302 of 2024 - 366 in Arkansas - 23317 overall]

I was pleasantly surprised with my visit to downtown Little Rock. It was clean. Everyone we ran…read moreinto were helpful. Plenty of green space. The Market Place area is full of restaurants, shops and hotels. Most places are walkable --and we felt safe to walk.

Ohhhh, the Capital of Arkansas. This has a small town vibe and is pretty slow. There was not a lot…read moregoing on while I was there. Some of the city's popular attractions include the State Capitol, The Arkansas River, Central High School, the River Market District, the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, The Bill Clinton Presidential Library and MacAuther Park. The downtown area has commercial lots and metered street parking. The meters run Monday through Friday, from 8AM to 6PM for the most part. The city is known a group called the Little Rock Nine, A group a 9 black teenagers that integrated Central High School in the city, in the face of intimidation, threats and violence. The city is the 118th most populous in the country and is home of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Most of the people that I encountered in the city were friendly. You will find panoramic views along the river and it was double awesome at night. River Front and River Walk Parks are amazing spots to take it all in. I found it to be a relatively clean city and the airport was only about 10 minutes from the Downtown area. Even though the city is ranked as one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the country, I never came across a time that I felt uncomfortable or in danger. This is a chill little city and I really enjoyed my time here. There was enough for me to do and I was able to find some awesome eateries such as Campo Taco, Maddie's Place, the Rail Yard, and the Flying Fish.