Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Arkansas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Little Rock Central High School the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 245° | 10h 05m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:53 PM | 255° | 10h 57m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:38 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:41 PM | 283° | 13h 03m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:06 PM | 294° | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:56 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:25 PM | 300° | 14h 28m |
| July | 6:08 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:24 PM | 297° | 14h 16m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:59 PM | 288° | 13h 28m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:18 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:15 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:36 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:05 PM | 248° | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:10 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:00 PM | 242° | 9h 50m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.7369, -92.2999); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Little Rock Central High School, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:47 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 4:01 AM – 5:51 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 12:04 AM – 4:24 AM | 4.3 | 26° |
| June | 10:11 PM – 4:01 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:06 PM – 2:36 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:31 PM – 12:41 AM | 3.2 | 26° |
| September | 8:43 PM – 10:33 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 8:00 PM – 8:40 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Arkansas weather can change quickly. While the state is in a moderate temperate zone, it does experience strong thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash floods. In winter, "snow" events tend to quickly turn to thin ice which can be difficult to see and to clear. Summer temperatures and humidity can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Visitors are advised to dress in layers and be prepared for precipitation. Average seasonal temperatures (°F): Spring: 62° Summer: 80° Fall: 63° Winter: 43°
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
From I-630, take Exit 2B (Dr. Martin Luther King Drive). Go south (away from the Arkansas State Capitol) to W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. Turn right (head west) and continue 0.5 miles. The Visitor Center is on the right at the corner of W. Daisy Bates Drive and Little Rock Nine Way. Parking lot entrance is located just before the intersection with Park Street, directly across from the historic Magnolia/Mobil Gas Station and diagonally across from Central High School (still a functioning high school).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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