little-rock-central-high-school | AR | Find park

The front facade of Little Rock Central High School

Little Rock Central High School has been a public school since opening in 1927.

Exhibits, films, restrooms and a bookstore are located in the National Park Visitor Center.

Spend some time in thought in the park's commemorative garden

a replica of a 1950s bus bench with Central High School in the background

Images of the Little Rock Nine’s persistence and Elizabeth’s brave walk through the mob to the sanctuary of the bench captured their enduring legacy of “moral courage” that has inspired others around

The Little Rock Nine exit the doors at Central High under troop escort

In September 1957, Little Rock Central High School became a symbol for change and a catalyst for transformation in the civil rights movement as the first fundamental test to the United States’ resolve to enforce African-American civil rights in the face

The Magnolia Mobil Gas Station, a white stucco facility with terracotta roof

The Magnolia Mobil Gas Station, the de facto media headquarters during the 1957 desegregation crisis.

Physical Address:

Little Rock Central High School NHS

2120 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive

Little Rock, AR 72202-5212

Mailing Address:

Little Rock Central High School NHS

2120 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive

Little Rock, AR 72202-5212

contact-details

Phone Number: 501.374.1957 Voice
Phone Number: 501.396.3001 Fax

Email Address: chsc_info@nps.gov
Description: Email the park at this address for questions, directions, programming, or other general information. To reserve a guided tour, please call the park during business hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST/CDT, daily).

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

In 1957, Little Rock Central High School was the epicenter of confrontation and a catalyst for change as the fundamental test for the United States to enforce African American civil rights following Brown v. Board of Education. Learn how the sacrifice and struggle endured by the Little Rock Nine have provided opportunities and opened doors for those seeking equality and education around the world.

park designation:National Historic Site

Directions:

From I-630, take Exit 2B (Dr. Martin Luther King Drive). Go south (away from the Arkansas State Capitol) to W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. Turn right (head west) and continue 0.5 miles. The Visitor Center is on the right at the corner of W. Daisy Bates Drive and Little Rock Nine Way. Parking lot entrance is located just before the intersection with Park Street, directly across from the historic Magnolia/Mobil Gas Station and diagonally across from Central High School (still a functioning high school).

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Little Rock Central High School NHS

The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center is currently open Tuesday through Saturday (10:00 a.m. CST/CDT to 4:00 p.m. CST/CDT). The Magnolia Mobil Gas Station & Little Rock Central High School are closed to the public and not available for public use. The commemorative garden is open daily for public visitation and use from 7:00 a.m. CST/CDT until sunset. Guests may visit the NHS daily; we recommend the NPS App for digital content on days when the visitor center is closed.

Exceptions:

Christmas Day (December 25, 2024 - December 25, 2024)

New Year's Day (January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025)

Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025 - November 27, 2025)

Weather Information:

Arkansas weather can change quickly. While the state is in a moderate temperate zone, it does experience strong thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash floods. In winter, "snow" events tend to quickly turn to thin ice which can be difficult to see and to clear. Summer temperatures and humidity can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Visitors are advised to dress in layers and be prepared for precipitation. Average seasonal temperatures (°F): Spring: 62° Summer: 80° Fall: 63° Winter: 43°