All Around Arkansas: Little Rock's Oldest Building

 

Photo courtesy of Historic Arkansas Museum

                Driving through downtown Little Rock, you may have noticed a white two-story building on the corner of Third and Cumberland streets that looks very out of place. That structure would be the Hinderliter Grog Shop, and it's considered by most local historians to be the oldest still-standing building in the capital city.

             The Hinderliter Grog Shop was built around 1826 by Jesse Hinderliter, who came to Arkansas with his wife, Sophia, from St. Louis. On Lots 7, 8 and 9 of the city’s Block 32, Hinderliter built the two-story, hand-hewn log building, which served as a tavern, a restaurant, an inn and the private residence for the Hinderliters.

             Unfortunately, Jesse Hinderliter didn’t live long in Little Rock. He died in 1834. The grog shop was then sold at auction to repay the debt Hinderliter owed to the original owner of the property, prominent Little Rock attorney Chester Ashley.

             According to local legend, the last meeting of the Arkansas Territorial Legislature took place in the old grog shop on Oct. 3, 1835. There is a stone marker placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution (which has sunk into the ground and is barely visible now) on the corner of Third and Cumberland that attests to this story. But there is no concrete evidence that the old building ever housed the territorial legislature.

             After Hinderliter’s death and the sale of the building, it continued to serve as a restaurant and tavern. As seen in photos taken of the building in the early 1930s, it even served as a grocery store and a barber shop. Eventually the building fell into disrepair and was almost demolished by the city.

             But thanks to the efforts of Little Rock socialite Louise Loughborough, the old Hinderliter Grog Shop and several other vintage structures on the block were purchased by the state and restored by the Works Progress Administration. On July 19, 1941, the Arkansas Territorial Capitol Restoration opened to the public. Today the restored buildings are part of the Historic Arkansas Museum, which is operated by the Division of Arkansas Heritage. Tours are available of the grog shop, just don’t expect any adult beverages when you visit. For that my friends, you’ll have to walk a couple of blocks over to the River Market.

 A proud sixth-generation Arkansan, Darrell W. Brown is a lover of all things Arkansas. He served several years with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and worked in all three divisions. He lives in Saline County with his wife and two beloved Boston Terriers.