Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Gideon Shryock, the architect responsible for planning the Old State House in Little Rock (Pulaski County), which is deemed the finest example of Greek Revival architecture in the state, was born in Lexington, Kentucky. Although Shryock drew plans for the building—envisioned by territorial governor John Pope to be a new territorial capitol that “would command the admiration and respect of the passing stranger, and have moral and political influence on the whole community”—he was never able to visit Little Rock. He is also believed to have designed Curran Hall, now used as Little Rock’s visitor information center.