February 25, 1866

Paul Heerwagen was born in Bavaria, Germany. Heerwagen was an interior decorator who worked out of his Arkansas studios from 1891 to 1931. His work includes hotels, office and government buildings, churches, Masonic temples, and theaters throughout the South and Southwest. Some of his noteworthy projects include the Donaghey and Lafayette buildings and the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock (Pulaski County); the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee; and the Strand Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana. During World War I, the federal government closely scrutinized Americans of German descent, including Heerwagen. To show his support for the U.S. war effort, he developed a type of paint for use on airplanes to help shed water and ice. He received a letter of commendation for this contribution.