The Hornibrook Mansion, now The Empress of Little Rock, was completed in 1888 from materials exclusively Arkansas. Today, The Empress of Little Rock is a Three Diamond AAA-rated Bed and Breakfast Inn and provides a charming hotel alternative.

Designed by Max Orlopp and Casper Kusener, it has been described in the National Register of Historic Places as the best example of ornate Victorian architecture in Arkansas and as the most important existing example of Gothic Queen Anne style in the region.

The mansion's significance lies in the unique architectural features such as divided stairway, 3-1/2 story corner tower, stained glass skylight, six original Eastlake fireplaces, and octagonal-shaped rooms which create a massive structure representing late nineteenth-century architecture in its most flamboyant style. The authentic period restoration of the home makes this one of the most elegant and romantic accommodations west of the Mississippi.

Imagine an evening in the family parlor, the warmth of the fire draining away the tension of a busy corporate day: surrounded by luxurious antiques, stretched out in your smoking jacket or Victorian dressing gown, and reading that special book you've been postponing for the "right time". Each room at The Empress of Little Rock conveys just such a feeling in your own private sitting area. Or imagine luxuriating in the "bath of the century" (nineteenth century, that is) provided by a clawfoot tub and the soft glow of long-ago lighting. Such are the lodging accommodations offered to you at the Empress.

Breakfast aromas beckon you to leisurely dining served on the verandah or the formal dining room, resplendent with silver service and unrushed conversation, where true Southern hospitality is served. A full two-course gourmet feast awaits you. Queen Victoria would have nodded her head in approval.

Visit The Empress of Little Rock, rated Three Diamonds by AAA, and discover "the forgotten experience."

Guests of The Empress become engrossed in the drawing room with its patterned carpet and rich wood wainscotting, serving as a backdrop for a game table with a partially put-together puzzle that draws you to pull up a cozy chair and add the next piece. Perhaps the lure of the "secret" card room intrigues you. Or imagine yourself as Scarlett, descending the magnificent double staircase made of walnut and cypress, lighted by the rainbow hues of the stained glass skylight.

Activities that abound near the Empress include fishing, tennis, golf, and shopping. Little Rock also offers theatres and State Fair grounds, with a market and Riverfront park within walking distance. If you are planning a wedding, your hosts have just prepared a Secret Wedding Garden with moonlight garden and Gothic Gazebo that will accommodate up to 100 guests for garden weddings and includes a restored original quartz cove fountain.