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Arkansas Capitol and Clinton Library – 9/11/2016

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September 11, 2016 (Sunday)

Michael got up and went downstairs to get us some breakfast and coffee. After we got ready, we left and headed for the State Capitol of Arkansas. We weren’t sure if it would be open or not as there was conflicting information on the internet. It was pretty close to our hotel (within five miles or so) and the drive was lovely. We could see the Capitol from a short distance away and it looked very grand.

Approaching the Capitol building.
Approaching the Capitol building.
Most Capitols have a Law Enforcement memorial on grounds.
Most Capitols have a Law Enforcement memorial on grounds.
And Firefighters memorial too.
And Firefighter memorial too.
Handsome building, clean of line.
Handsome building, clean of line.

We weren’t sure where to go inside so we drove around and decided the entrance would not be near all the construction going on. We parked and walked up to the building and it was open. There was security on duty and they told us we could go anywhere inside the building that was unlocked. We also discovered a self-guided booklet we used for our “tour.”

Pretty woman found the Sunday morning way inside. I already started liking the curves and lines of the place.
Pretty woman found the Sunday morning way inside. I already started liking the curves and lines of the place.
Nice technological touch, a projected light seal.
Nice technological touch – a projected light seal.
Layed on the floor to get this photo of the dome.
I was down on the floor to get this photo of the dome.
The Goddess of Liberty on the left, the Angel of Mercy in the top center and the sword of Justice on the right. Latin translates roughly to: the people rule. Other symbols represent Arkansas' agricultural and industrial wealth.
The Goddess of Liberty on the left, the Angel of Mercy in the top center and the sword of Justice on the right. Latin translates roughly to: the people rule. Other symbols represent Arkansas’ agricultural and industrial wealth.

We explored and checked out everything we possibly could. It’s a beautifully understated building, quite lovely. We saw the murals, the Governor’s reception room area, and every inch we possibly could on every floor we could. We spent quite a long time and enjoyed it.

The basement entrance is very modest and unimposing. As you climb the stairs that all changes.
The basement entrance is very modest and unimposing. As you climb the stairs that all changes.
Solid pieces everywhere.
Solid pieces everywhere.
They have their own building now.
They have their own building now.
Old Supreme Court room, now a senate meeting room.
Old Supreme Court room, now a senate meeting room.
A senate meeting room and I like the glass so you can see what is going on and who is doing it.
A senate meeting room and I like the glass so you can see what is going on and who is doing it.
Brass plates with the state seal.
Brass plates with the state seal.
Hung in the mail rotunda.
Hung in the main rotunda.
He was young.
He was young.
The second level is very expansive and impressive.
The second level is very expansive and impressive.
Another Arkansan that became a national figure.
Another Arkansan that became a national figure.
His thinnest days.
His thinnest days.
Beautiful chandeliers throughout.
Beautiful chandeliers throughout.
This place grows on you with it's subtle beauty and grandeur.
This place grows on you with its subtle beauty and grandeur.
Nice reception room.
Nice reception room.
A fireplace at each end.
A fireplace at each end.
The other end.
The other end.
State flag.
State flag.

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Wonderful skylights on the wings.
Wonderful skylights on the wings.
Just four murals in the whole place. All four and under the skylights at each terminus.
Just four murals in the whole place. All four are under the skylights at each terminus.
The electronic members board for tallying votes.
The electronic members board for tallying votes.
Senate desks.
House desks.
House at the other end.
Farthermost door at same level is the Senate.
Different state flags.
Different state flags.
Basement rotunda.
Basement rotunda.
Grand upper areas.
Grand upper areas.
Great lines.
Great lines.
Shoe shine stand.
Shoe shine stand.
Senate skylight.
Senate skylight.
Senate chamber.
Senate chamber.
Nice sentiment.
Nice sentiment.
Whoever is in charge of the brass is on it. It was beautifully polished everywhere.
Whoever is in charge of the brass is on it. It was beautifully polished everywhere.

After finishing up inside, we went out and walked the grounds and saw most of the statues. Liked the history of the Little Rock Nine while looking at the statues and reading their stories. What brave kids they were!

Arkansas 9. In acknowledgement of the 9 students that needed national guard protection to desegregate a North Little Rock school in 1957.
Little Rock 9. In acknowledgement of the 9 students that needed National Guard protection to desegregate a North Little Rock school in 1957.
The donated replica of the Liberty Bell.
The donated replica of the Liberty Bell.
We found this interesting, a memorial to the lost confederate soldiers of the civil war.
We found this interesting, a memorial to the lost confederate soldiers of the Civil War.

We left the Capitol and headed off to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. It’s an ultra-modern looking building (almost like a stainless steel long trailer or cargo container) with lots of glass and steel. It sits very close to the Arkansas River and a bridge over the Arkansas River. We found parking in front of the Clinton Foundation building and walked to the Library. In front of the Library are beautiful water features that make a soothing sound.

Driving to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library.
Driving to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library.
Lots of nice sayings but really difficult to read etched on the clear glass.
Lots of nice sayings but really difficult to read etched on the clear glass.
Great ponds/fountains. The water flowed very gently over the edges.
Great ponds/fountains. The water flowed very gently over the edges.
The thinest flow was there and sounded very pleasant.
The thinnest flow was there and sounded very pleasant.

We went inside and got our tickets. When we were talking to the ticket giver, he told us about a young lady that came to the Library on bicycle and was going across country. We talked and realized it was most likely the young woman we had met on Vancouver Island a year or so ago, Kim, who was bicycling across the United States from Alaska. Another brave young person doing it all by herself. When we talked to her in Canada, she said her first night in her tent she had a run in with a bear but she turned her phone on loud and played Lady Gage and it scared the bear away.  I think at that point I would have turned around and gone home. Anyway, after getting our tickets (something like $8.00 per person with the old person discount) we were told “Jesse” had a tour going in just a few minutes and we were welcome to join him, which we did. Jesse was fun and interspersed old stories of the Clinton family or Little Rock history.

The presidential limo during his time.
The presidential limo during his time.
Surely they carry more than this.
Surely they carry more than this.

He showed us all there was – to include the dishware Hillary designed when Bill was President. We saw early history of the Clinton’s, when he was in Office in Arkansas, when he was President, an exact replica of the Oval Office (we couldn’t take pictures inside there), an exact replica of the cabinet room where all the different heads would meet, and a special exhibit of the Olympics.

In the Cabinet room.
In the Cabinet room.
Commander in Chief Flag.
Commander in Chief Flag.
The Presidents' Chair, placed in the middle on the left side.
The President’s chair, placed in the middle on the left side.
The back of which sits 2 inches higher than any other chair in the room. The arms and seat are the same height.
The back of which sits 2 inches higher than any other chair in the room. The arms and seat are the same height.
I happened to sit in the "Chief of Intelligence" chair.
I happened to sit in the “Chief of Intelligence” chair.
The chairs cost $4,000. and when a person leave, by tradition, their staff buy them the chair to take with them.
The chairs cost $4,000 and when a person leaves, by tradition, their staff will buy them their chair to take with them.
Photo from the Clinton Era.
Photo from the Clinton Era.
View of Clinton drive and beautiful grounds. The land was abandoned and decaying industrial buildings.
View of Clinton drive and beautiful grounds. The land was abandoned and decaying industrial buildings.
View out of lovely rehabilitated grounds.
View out of lovely rehabilitated grounds.
The building is 4 stories high, 3 for display and the 4th holds a 4,000 square foot private residence for President Clinton. Don't think he pays for his stays.
The building is 4 stories high, 3 for display and the 4th holds a 4,000 square foot private residence for President Clinton. Don’t think he pays for his stays.
Their place settings.
Their place settings.
Some of the gifts.
Some of the gifts.
A signed rookie year Mickey Mantle card.
A signed rookie year Mickey Mantle card.
A valuable crystal tree.
A valuable crystal tree.
A huge, but miniature of the White House Christmas version.
A huge, but miniature of the White House Christmas version.
Arkansas 9 gold medal awarded by congress, donated to the library.
Arkansas 9 gold medal awarded to all 9 by Congress.  One of the nine donated theirs to the library.
Duplicate Oval office.
Duplicate Oval office.
Curved doors to fit the oval walls.
Curved doors to fit the oval walls.
His bold colors.
His bold colors.

There was nothing about the Monica affair except a little blurp that said he had a personal failing and political enemies took advantage of it but the Senate ultimately stopped the impeachment. When I asked Jesse why they didn’t go into it further, he said it was his personal life and not a Presidential matter.

The only reference to the impeachment and Monica Lewinsky affair.
The only reference to the impeachment and Monica Lewinsky affair.

After we left the Library, we walked most of the way across the bridge. Very beautiful. We would have liked to have walked the park and seen all the statues but we were feeling our age and were pretty tired. We did drive to the old town park and see more statues and quaint old buildings that are restored or are being restored. We also got to see the Old State House where Clinton gave his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination.

Donors.
Donors.
Each brick has a name on it.
Each brick has a name on it.
Pretty woman headed up the bridge. You can see the roof line of the private residence on top.
Pretty woman headed up the bridge. You can see the roof line of the private residence on top.
Up the bridge with view of pathways below. If it wasn't Little Rock in September, we might have walked them.
Up the bridge with view of pathways below. If it wasn’t Little Rock in September, we might have walked them.
Arkansas River is big.
Arkansas River is big.
Pretty woman on the walkway.
Pretty woman on the walkway.
Grumpy on the bridge walk.
Grumpy on the bridge walk.

We left and went to a nearby Cracker Barrel to have their Sunday chicken dinner special (although I had a vegetable platter). Yummy. Cracker Barrel never disappoints.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!