The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has launched a new educational website that chronicles the evolution of the city of Little Rock through more than a century of history.

Funded by two grants totaling more than $375,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Mapping Little Rock History The project allows users to explore key moments in the city’s expansion.

“This interactive, map-based website that illustrates the history of Little Rock was made possible through the digitization and geolocation of more than 200,000 historical items,” said Dr. Deborah Baldwin, associate dean emeritus. “It’s a fun website to explore, and you can do a lot of things with it. People can see places they know and how they have evolved over time.

The project includes historical documents ranging from 1880 to 2014, although most of the documents are from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The website makes it easier for people to access archival materials from the comfort of their homes.

“It’s an interactive way to interact with archival materials about the city of Little Rock,” said Laura McClellan, deputy director of the Center for Arkansas History and Culture. “You can explore it all with a map from the comfort of your own home. There is no need to visit physical archives; you can access and view primary sources about our city’s history anywhere you have an internet connection.

Partners who helped develop the website include Few, the Arkansas Economic Development Institute and the UA Little Rock CRUX Lab. Partners who shared their archival materials include the City of Little Rock, the Central Arkansas Library System Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and the Central High School National Historic Site.

The website features a rich collection of historical documents, photos, maps and multimedia content illustrating the transformation of Little Rock over the decades. It is designed to serve as a resource for students, educators, historians, urban planners, architects, engineers, and community members interested in learning more about the city’s past.

You can access the website here.

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