The Empress of Little Rock

The Empress of Little Rock is a stunning 1888 Gothic Queen Anne mansion in the Quapaw Quarter, now operating as a bed and breakfast. The house was built for saloon-owner James Hornibrook in a competitive act of one-upmanship and is widely cited as the finest example of Gothic Queen Anne architecture in the United States.

The exterior is a cascade of towers, turrets, wraparound porches, and intricately carved woodwork — painted in period colours that emphasise the layered ornament. Even if you are not staying here, the exterior alone is worth a walk-by, and the owners occasionally offer house tours. 1366 Scott St.

things to do sight architecture
A story
The house was built in 1888 by James Hornibrook, a saloon owner. A competing saloon owner was building a fine house on the same block. Hornibrook, not to be outdone, hired architect Max Orlopp Jr. to build something grander — and the resulting Gothic Queen Anne mansion, with its turrets, wraparound porch, and deeply carved woodwork, is widely considered the finest Victorian house in the state.

Other places in Things to Do