HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2001-008 The Curran Hall Visitor Center WillThe Curran Hall
Little Rock
Visitor Center Will:
Serve as the hub for visitors to our city and its surroundings.
Revitalize Little Rock's metropolitan center, thus bringing a '
burgeoning number of vacationers, researchers, convention-
eers and commercial travelers.
Be the natural stop for visitors to obtain information and
orientation.
Be a partner attraction with the new Clinton Presidential
Library Center, once it is completed.
Put out a welcome mat for Southern hospitality.
Demonstrate our pride in Little Rock.
t
*a Little Rack
VISITOR CENTER
the natural start to the natural stare
Cover photograph From the oolkction of the Arkansas Terrirariai Restoration.
5 line phatograph courtesy of Sill Parsons.
Mustrarions the Little Rock Parks & Recreation Depammar.
I ALL
STARTS1�
Xir':7�.
,c A
The Natural Start
to the Natural State.
n
Litiac Ruck is a iiillCttle city. , .rkansas at-, impressive state. but
all too often visitors miss our hidden characteristics for lack
of direction. The W11rers-Curran-11ell house, nova knov:n as
Curran Hall, is, therefore, planned as a welcoming center,
opening the door to all the sights and excitement that can be
found in The Natural State.
Curran Hall is one of the oldest historic homes in the stare,
its gardens rich in historic plantings and its walls thick with
m fury. ivuw we have the oppommity to preserve it in a way
which not only restores the building to its glorious past but
puts it to good use.
Because of its historic importance and its prime location, just a
half block off Interstate 30 at the Sixth Street Exit in downtown
Little Rock, Curran Hall is a wonderful candidate for a new
and exciting life as a combination visitor information center,
historic home, and mayor's reception hall.
We encourage you to become one of a group of patrons, not
only dedicated to the preservation of a historic landmark, but
also demonstrating community pride and a tremendous vision
toward the future. Wont you join us?
A Gift for All Time.
The _.upport of rhi, ,.ch .e: Je a I Li-�,I
than any other instrument of public opinion, the Curran Hall
Visitor Center will elevate Little Ruck in the eyes Of uur city's
bcst a;nbassadors — ti-iosc -�%hu cocne aid sec i[ 1i0r thcrosch-es.
Pillars of the Community— $5,000
These donors will be featured in a prominent site in the Visitor
Center with names listed on the cornice around the central hall-
way. Donors will also be acknowledged with invitations to the
Grand Opening, in our event program and pre -event publicity.
Community Leaders Circle — $1,000
Donors at this level will be recognized with their names
featured on a distinctive display in the Center. Donors will also
be acknowledged with invitations to the Grand Opening, in the
event program and pre -event publicity.
Little Rock History Exhibit
and Mayor's Reception Hai'
The other set of rooms will be separated by closed doors. One
room will house the Little Rock history room to relate the story
of Curran Hall and highlights of the history of Little Rock. It
will provide a look at how Little Rock residents lived in the
1840s and will interest visitors in remaining in Little Rock
and exploring city attractions.
The history room will be overseen by the Little Rock Museum
Consortium to ensure that the exhibits are authentic.
Volunteers dressed in period costumes will take visitors on
mini -tours of the house. The history room will also serve as the
mayor's reception hall.
The second room will house offices. Parking and modern
restrooms will be constructed on the Sixth Street side where
some outbuildings will remain to preserve the authenticity of
the historic site.
Historic Gardens
Since the garden also holds special historical significance due
to its plantings, a historic plantings tour will be designated
involving master gardeners, city parks personnel and other
appropriate groups.
Parking
Parking will be
accommodated
in lots immedi-
ately behind the,
property, as well
as from an offer
from the post
office to allow
limited parking
in its lot. An
additional vacant
lot at Sixth and
Ferry Streets will
round out park-
ing availabilities.
AND IT ALL
STARTS
WITH YOU
Your Invitation to Become
a Pillar of the Community
Building Little Rocles
1mrThrough
in _vreservatlon.
A preliminary report by restoration architect Charles DUirsell
estimates the complete cost of renovation, computer equipment
and furnishings at $900,000. To accomplish this will require a
combination ofpublic and pfkate oian[S, donation of
considerable dnic and expertise by %,arious individuals in die
historic prescryMori and rourism communirv, and plan hard
work. This is a project to show off Arkansas' capitol city to
visitors from around the world.
And a great number of visitors, at that. In 1995, Little Rock
had 454,700 convention visitors, 335,853 visitors at the Little
Rock Zoo, over one million passengers through the Little Rock
National Airport and more than 2.49 million vehicles passing
the 6th Street interchange on Interstate 30.
Unlike many Arkansas cities and most great American cities,
Little Rock has no visitor information facility. It has only a
kiosk at its airport and a booth in the Excelsior Hotel. Neither
is readily accessible to the motoring public.
By restoring this historic structure, you will help to provide a
valuable service to the traveling public. Visitors who stop will
likely stay in the city and spend money, thus contributing to the
local economy. In fact, a preliminary study suggests at least
50,000 Curran Hall visitors annually. The city will have a
beautiful, historic location for receptions and official functions.
And most of all, you will help to preserve a significant part of
Little Rocks roots.
The Central Hallway
The central hallway of this significant historic structure permits
access from both 6th Street and Capitol Avenue and will be
used as the primary reception -information area. It will be
staffed by trained personnel of the Little Rock Convention
Multi -Media Tourist Center
The central hallway is flanked
tainment reservation station;
on the east and west sides by
and individual information
two sets of large rooms con-
displays for recreation,
netted by large drawing room
entertainment, military sites,
doors. One set of rooms will
historic structures and
be the multimedia tourist
attractions.
information center. The center
will house a number of attrac-
tions, including a continuous
video/slide presentation of
Little Rock sites; a computer
lodging, restaurant and enter-