Four of Little Rock's Most Haunted Places

Little Rock is a city that’s filled with history all year long, but October is when things get ghoulish in Arkansas’s capital city.

Little Rock was officially founded in 1821, meaning that there’s been more than enough time for it to collect a few famous hauntings over the course of 200 years. Here are four of the most haunted sites in Little Rock.

1. Old State House Museum

The Old State House Museum chronicles Arkansas history in the building that saw much of it happen: it’s the state’s first capitol building. Guests can wander the multistory building, constructed in 1833, and catch glimpses into the distant and not-so-distant past. The museum’s House of Representatives Chamber, built in 1855 in the turbulent decade before the Civil War, remained home to the legislative body until 1911. It’s said that from time to time visitors will catch a glimpse of a lingering legislator as they walk to and fro among the Victorian desks throughout the chamber.

2. Mount Holly Cemetery

Nicknamed the “Westminster of Arkansas,” Mount Holly Cemetery is the final resting place of many famous Arkansans. Founded in 1843, it holds the remains of Arkansans from every military conflict from the American Revolution to the Gulf War. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and its numerous monuments make it a beautiful place for tranquility and contemplation. And while the cemetery may be serene, it’s also been known to have a few otherworldly visitors. Late night passersby have reported strange sightings through the cemetery’s gates, including figures who seem to float above the ground and those who suddenly vanish into the night.

3. MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History

If hauntings are bred from conflict and strife, there may be no more haunted place in Arkansas than what is today the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. What started as the state’s first arsenal has, over the years, been everything from both a Confederate and Union-held base, a hospital, a science museum, and now a history museum. As a hospital it saw the birth of General Douglas MacArthur, who would go on to lead American troops in World War II. Today, it’s not those who were born in the museum’s tower building that haunt it, but those who lost their lives. If one is quiet, it’s said that you can still hear the prayers of the sick and dying.

4. The Empress of Little Rock

Also known as the Hornibrook House, The Empress of Little Rock functions as one of the city’s premier bed and breakfasts. The home was constructed in 1888 by James Hornibrook who only lived in the house for two years. In 1890 he was found dead in the yard under mysterious circumstance, and unnatural occurrences have been reported at the home ever since. The house is frequented by the ghost of a well-dressed man who often watches guests from the top of the staircase. A woman in pink and a man resembling a sea captain are just two more of the many spirits that call The Empress home. As you make your way to your room, listen closely for the sound of another pair of ghostly footsteps behind you.

Hunting ghosts can make you hungry. Click here to find the closest restaurant to your haunted hangout.

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