Tourist for a Day (Jeff Hankins Commentary)

We’re preparing to host more than 200 business journal publishers and editors from around the world June 1-3 in Little Rock.

It occurred to me sometime last year as we began to plan that there are several so-called tourist destinations that I had not visited in years. I had attended receptions or events at most of them, but I had not immersed myself in them.

That changed in late March. I blocked out a day to be a Little Rock tourist.

My agenda, starting at 9 a.m. and wrapping up by 5 p.m., was naively optimistic and included the Historic Arkansas Museum, the River Market, the Clinton Presidential Library, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Arts Center and the Central High School Historic Site. I ran out of time and missed the last two stops, so I scheduled at least another half-day.

Those who think there isn’t enough to occupy a tourist in central Arkansas need to think again. My list was hardly complete; I particularly wanted to see the USS Razorback submarine. I easily could have filled three days with exploration.

Let me describe some overall views:

• It was a cheerful experience at every turn. Greeters, tour guides, trolley drivers and River Market restaurant operators were friendly and did their jobs well.

• True tourists that I encountered were genuinely enjoying themselves and impressed with what they were experiencing. I chatted with people from Phoenix, Baltimore, Hot Springs and Nebraska.

• Central Arkansas Transit’s trolley rail system and trolley shuttle on wheels came in handy for getting around downtown. I’m ashamed to admit it was my first time to ride either. The timing and frequency of their routes make them a very marginal transportation means for those of us who work downtown. But as a tourist, they were fun and useful.

• I remember seeing one taxi all day. Getting around Little Rock might be the single biggest issue we face with tourism growth, and it’s time for the city to overhaul its transportation code. We have only 100 licensed cab drivers and regulations that inhibit competition.

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We can be proud of the three museums I visited, and I think you would be hard-pressed to find another city the size of Little Rock that has the quantity and quality. We’re obviously not competing with New York or Chicago.

The Historic Arkansas Museum is the least technically advanced of the ones I visited, but it offers historical perspectives that suit a wide range of age groups. From the Bowie knife collection to the amazing display of quilts made in the 1800s, you get a diverse dose of Arkansas and U.S. history.

The trolley ride from downtown Little Rock, over the Arkansas River and through downtown North Little Rock also serves as a quick tour. Old architecture, new architecture, and key museums and attractions all are on display.

After a sandwich at the River Market, I headed for the Clinton Museum Store. The place was very busy, as usual, and the selection of merchandise is amazing because it’s as much about Arkansas as it is about the Clintons.

The Clinton Library was next. Two previous visits were fairly quick, so I engaged in more of the interactive displays.

The Old State House has an amazing place in our state’s history. From surviving the Civil War to serving as the backdrop for Bill Clinton’s major election speeches, it’s an architectural and historical treasure. The most eye-opening exhibit featured Arkansas politics in the 1800s, and I was reminded that regional conflict and political battles between central Arkansas, the Delta and Northwest Arkansas are nothing new.

(Jeff Hankins is president and publisher of Arkansas Business in Little Rock. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].)