Kirkbride Buildings - Arkansas State Hospital

In 1873, the Arkansas legislature established the Arkansas Lunatic Asylum and appropriated $50,000 for it's creation. Land near Little Rock was purchased, but nothing further happened till 1881 when the state government raised an additional $150,000 for building the asylum. The asylum opened officially in 1883.

In the 1960s the Kirkbride building was torn down to make room for newer buildings.

Arkansas State Hospital is currently the only state-owned and operated facility for the treatment of mental illness in Arkansas.