Civil Rights History

Arkansas is part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail commemorating the courage and persistence of civil rights leaders and extraordinary people in our nation’s history. An essential chapter in the broader civil rights narrative, Central High School National Historic Site in Little Rock preserves the story of bravery in the face of adversity. The Little Rock Nine, a name given to the first African-American students in Arkansas to integrate at Central High School, represent a fundamental shift during a disruptive period of American history, following the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The events at Little Rock Central High School led to the greater movement nationwide and have earned this landmark the designation of a Top Ten Site on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.