Basic Information

Fall leaves lie across the commemorative garden's inscribed poem.

NPS Photo

 

Physical Address

Directions

Weather

Fees & Passes

Visitor Centers

Internet & Cellular Access

Internet & Cellular Access Details

 

Information Central to Your Visit

• Free admission - open Tuesday through Saturday (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CDT/CST). The visitor center is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
• Weekday and weekend scheduled ranger-led programs of 50 visitors will not include access inside Little Rock Central High School. All ranger-led programs will be given at 1:00 p.m. CDT/CST by confirmed reservation only pending availability and must be reserved at a minimum of 48 hours (two days) in advance. Groups wanting to bring more than 50 visitors must contact the park in advance to see if an accommodation can be made. For more information on scheduling a ranger-led program, visit our reservations page.

• Outdoor spaces at Little Rock Central High School NHS are accessible to the public including the Commemorative Garden and the Elizabeth Eckford Commemorative Bench. Central High is a functioning high school and unauthorized access is not permitted.

What should I see at the NHS?

Start at our Visitor Center located at 2120 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. Park rangers can provide you with suggestions depending on your interests and the length of your stay. For more information about sites, see Places to Go.

Does the NHS have an admission charge?

Admission to Little Rock Central High School NHS is free.

Does the NHS give ranger-led programs?

Yes; we offer ranger-led programs with an advanced reservation. There is no access inside Little Rock Central High School.

Ranger-led programs are offered on 1:00 PM CST/CDT; no programs with access inside Little Rock Central High School are available. Ranger-led programs must be scheduled at least 48 hours (2 days) in advance and fill up quickly. Currently, ranger-led programs may only allow for a maximum of 50 total participants and are a guided, walking interpretive activity that will share the story of the Little Rock Nine, desegregation, education and the civil rights movement.

For more information and instructions on how to participate, visit our reservations page.

Where can I park my car, school bus or RV?

Free parking and accessible spaces are available at the NHS visitor center. Bus/RV spaces measure 14 feet wide x 40 feet long.

Are the NHS buildings accessible?

The visitor center, the front area of the Magnolia Mobil Gas Station, the Commemorative Garden, the front grounds of Little Rock Central High School (main entrance is not accessible) and the Elizabeth Eckford Bus Bench are accessible. At the visitor center, guests may borrow a wheelchair or other mobility device(s) for use in the park. Assistive listening devices with amplification and audio description are available for NHS exhibits. Check the accessibility section for more information on NHS services.

What do you recommend for families visiting with children?

The NHS offers a free Junior Ranger program at the visitor center.

What food services are available at the NHS?

No food services are available, but the NHS is located within driving distance of several dining options. Visitors may also choose to bring a bagged lunch and eat on one of the benches in the NHS.

Is filming, still photography and/or permitted in the NHS?

The National Park Service conserves and protects areas of untold beauty, grandeur and historical importance for current and future generations. The tradition of capturing images of these special places started with explorers who traveled with paint and canvas or primitive cameras. Sharing these images helped inspire the creation of national parks. Today, visitors to national parks continue to memorialize their visits through filming and photography.

On January 4, 2025, the EXPLORE Act was signed into law (Public Law 118-234). Section 125 of the Act changed how the National Park Service will manage filming and photography in park areas.

Key elements of the new law include:

• In most cases, permits and fees are not required for groups of eight individuals or less conducting filming and photography. In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming or photography must:
• (1) occur in areas open to the public;
• (2) use hand-carried equipment only;
• (3) not require exclusive use of a site; and
• (4) not adversely impact park resources, values, and other visitors.
• Permits and fees are never required for filming and photography that is associated with a permitted event, such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.
• All filming and photography is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, or conducted by media or for news gathering.
• When a permit is required, the National Park Service may charge application and location fees.
• Individuals and groups exempt from permit and fee requirements for filming or photography remain subject to all other laws and regulations that apply in park areas, including those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to resources.

Please contact Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site for more information about filming and photography in the park.

Requests for filming or still photography involving more than eight individuals require a permit and should be processed appropriately and all cost recovery and location fees collected as authorized.

Is the NHS pet friendly?

Pets are permitted on NHS grounds provided they are leashed; please remember to always pick up after your pet. Individuals in possession of a pet must have on their person a bag or device for the containerization and removal of pet excrement. Outside trash receptacles are provided throughout the NHS. Pets are not permitted in any NHS buildings; service animals are welcome in all NHS buildings that are open to the public.

Is the NHS stroller friendly?

Strollers are permitted in NHS buildings.