Arkansas Geography & Economics – Object #5

Downtown Little Rock

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<p>This black and white photograph depicts downtown Little Rock on September 17, 1958. In the forefront, there is a man at a crosswalk on his motorcycle waiting for people across a four lane West Capitol Avenue. In the background, sits the Arkansas State Capitol building. Along the street on either side sits various storefronts, including hotels, restaurants (including Franke’s Cafeteria), drug stores, and billboards. Throughout the picture are people of various racial backgrounds and occupations can be seen as well as, several cars, and four city busses. Power lines are also criss-crossing the road.</p>

Photograph shows a city street in Little Rock, Arkansas, with people walking, shops, cars and buses, and the state capitol in the background, 1958.

Questions:

When might this photograph have been taken?

What sort of economic activities are occurring in Little Rock at this time?

Describe the people you see and why their presence is the picture is significant.

How does this photo differ from the previous photos shown?

How has this area changed since the taking of this photograph?

Citations

O’Halloran, Thomas J, photographer. Downtown Little Rock. Arkansas Little Rock, September 17, 1958. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.