Daisy Bates House
Miss Daisy Bates was a highly renowned Civil Rights advocate in her lifetime (1914-1999), and she famously created a haven for the nine African American students who helped desegregate Central High School. The Daisy Bates House is located on 28th Street in Little Rock and saw its peak in 1957-1958, being a place to plan goals for and shelter the Little Rock nine. Daisy Bates was the president of the Arkansas NAACP branch, and she and her husband together served as mentors to the students, as well as advocates for fair treatment, Brown vs. the Board of Education follow-through, and desegregation acts that would ultimately change the nation. The house itself is known as the "de facto command post" for the desegregation crisis and was the official pick up/drop off site for the students, as well as meeting spot for members of the press.
Not only was this site a hopeful safe haven, but it was also a target of much violence, such as cross burnings and regular rock throwings. The home has an exterior brick veneer and wooden frame, a very typical 1950s ranch style house. Take in the garden outside, beautifully yet simply decorated with a memorial plaque to Daisy and the students. A tour inside will give you more information about Daisy and her husband, their personal life, and their public advocacy for civil rights that helped spark a movement much larger than themselves. This is one sobering and triumphant stop that your group will enjoy taking in while in Little Rock, an essential site in American history.
