Little Rock Y.M.C.A.

Built in 1928, the former Little Rock Y.M.C.A. building is historically significant for its architecture and contribution to the city's religious and social-humanitarian development in the early 20th century. It now houses businesses. In terms of design, the building is an excellent example of Spanish Revival architecture. One of the state's leading architecture firms, Mann and Stern, designed it. It features a six-story tower with a stone arcade of closed arched windows, two large arched entrances on the first floor, another entrance on the first floor surrounded by decorative stonework including urns and a coat of arms, and pairs of arched windows that are also on the first floor. The "Y", as it was usually referred to, provided housing and a variety of social, fitness, educational, and religious programs and services for the community.

In Little Rock, the Y.M.C.A., which stands for the Young Men's Christian Association, was established in 1885 to provide Bible classes and programs that would encourage civic engagement. It was located on the second floor of a building at 4th and Main Streets. The first Y building was erected at the corner of Capitol and Scott Streets in 1905.

The second and much larger Y, as noted above, was built in 1928. During its early years, it provided services and low-cost housing to men, most of whom were homeless. It also offered boys and men opportunities to improve their physical fitness by playing sports, swimming, and cardio and weight training. There were also social and game rooms, hand ball courts, and two gyms. Before World War II, the Y offered pre-military physical training. Over time, women were allowed to become members (in the mid-to-late 1970s) and many of the dorm rooms were converted into other uses, and additional programs and services were added. These included parent-child programs, a day care center, a summer food-service program, day camps, and instructional and charitable activities.

Membership reached its peak in 1987 with 1,162 members. However, the Y faced competition from other athletic clubs in the suburbs and as a result, membership at the Y declined to 608 members in 1995. It closed on March 29, 1996. It appears the building was left unused until 2011 when its new owners opened their Nationwide Insurance office here. The owners also proceeded to renovate the building to create space for commercial tenants on the first floor and residential units on the upper floors.

Miller, Frezil & Shinn, Mike. "Little Rock Y.M.C.A." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. July 22, 1979. https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/PU3241-pdf.

Silva, Rachel. "Sandwiching in History, Little Rock YMCA." PDF Article. Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. June 7, 2013. https://arkansaspreservation.worldsecuresystems.com/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=133945.