The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
18th-19th centuries
1722 – French explorer Jean-Baptiste Benard de la Harpe lands near a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River, which he reputedly names la Petite Roche (the little rock). La Harpe builds a trading post near the little rock. The Quapaw Indians reside nearby. 1812 – William Lewis, a fur trapper, builds a temporary seasonal home near the little rock. 1814 - Colonel Edmund Hogan, builds 1st home and ferry at the little rock where the road from Missouri crossed the Arkansas River 1815 - Colonel Edmund Hogan is signer of Grand Jury of the county of Arkansas, Territory of Missouri, requesting a company of regular troops be stationed in said county, April, 1816 1816–1818 Colonel Edmund Hogan represented Arkansas County in the 3rd Territorial General Assembly of Missouri in 1816 and 1818 1818 - Colonel Edmund Hogan appointed first justice of Peace of Pulaski county 1819 - The Arkansas Gazette established. 1820 Jan 1820 Colonel Edmund Hogan sold his ferry and settlement on the Arkansas River at Little Rock to William Russell (The ferry was later owned by first territorial secretary Robert Crittenden) Little Rock is surveyed. Robert Crittenden, born 1797, and Chester Ashley, born 1791, enter into an agreement for a "Partnership in the Practice of Law" which lays the groundwork for the Rose Law Firm, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi River. 1821 March 21, 1821, Colonel. Edmund Hogan appointed as Brigadier General of the Arkansas Militia, by U.S. President Monroe. Matthew Cunningham arrives in Little Rock. He is the first physician in the city. Little Rock becomes the capital of the Arkansas Territory formed in 1819; and seat of Pulaski County. Arkansas Gazette in publication. Little Rock briefly renamed "Arkopolis." 1825 – Little Rock Tavern in business (approximate date). 1826- Robert Cunningham, son of Matthew and Eliza, is the first free child born in Little Rock. Records do not survive for births of enslaved persons leaving unclear whether Cunningham was the first child born in the city. 1830 – Advocate (Whig) newspaper begins publication. 1831 – Little Rock is incorporated as a city. Dr. Matthew Cunningham is elected the first mayor of Little Rock. His descendants reside in the city as of 2022. 1833 – Arkansas State House (now Old State House Museum) is built. Completed in 1842, it serves as the State capitol until 1911. 1836 Jesse Brown becomes mayor. Arkansas becomes the 25th State, and Little Rock became the official capital city. Pulaski County Lyceum active (approximate date). 1837 – Antiquarian and Natural History Society and Bar Association founded. 1838 – Steam ferry begins operating. 1839 – Little Rock Theatre opens. 1840 – The Tornado newspaper begins publication. 1841 – Little Rock Arsenal (now MacArthur Museum of Military History) is completed. It serves as a storehouse for U.S. ordnance. 1843 Mount Holly Cemetery established. William Woodruff's Circulating Library in business. 1845 – Catholic church built. 1850 – Population: 2,167. 1858 – Mechanics' Institute established. 1859 – St. Johns military college opens. 1860 – Population: 3,727. 1861 U.S. Captain James Totten surrenders Little Rock Arsenal to Governor Henry M. Rector. Arkansas joins the Confederacy. 1863 Union forces occupy Little Rock. Daily Pantograph newspaper begins publication. 1864 – 17-year-old David Owen Dodd is hanged on January 6 for being a Confederate spy. 1866 – Little Rock Police Department formed. 1867 – Mercantile Library founded. 1868 Arkansas constitutional convention held. Little Rock National Cemetery established. 1870 – Population: 12,000 (approximate). 1873 Baring Cross Bridge constructed. Arkansas Press Association headquartered in Little Rock. 1874 The Brooks-Baxter War takes place in Little Rock. Union Station built. 1876 Horsecar trams begins operating. Anthony House (hotel) burns down. 1877 – Walden Seminary founded. 1879 – Telephone begins operating per Western Union Telegraph Company. 1880 – General Douglas MacArthur born on January 26 in The Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal. The building is now the home of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, and the surrounding area is called MacArthur Park. 1881 – Little Rock United States Post Office and Courthouse built. 1882 – Cathedral of St. Andrew built. 1883 Mosaic Templars of America founded. Little Rock Electric Light Company begins operating. 1884 Waterworks system and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral built. Minister's Institute founded. 1885 – Walnut Grove Methodist Church built. 1887 – Little Rock Electric Street Railway Company chartered. 1888 – Electric street lighting installed.