Ten Commandments Monument 🇺🇸

When you visit the outdoor grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock, you can view the Ten Commandments Monument, a site defined by intense legal debate, constitutional controversy, and public protest. Replaced on April 26, 2018, after the original June 2017 installation was illegally destroyed within twenty-four hours, this privately funded display was championed by State Senator and Christian minister Jason Rapert.

You will see a monument that stands at the very center of ongoing First Amendment challenges regarding government property and religious preference. While visiting the Capitol grounds, you are observing a centerpiece of high-profile legal actions involving organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Humanist Association, and the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers.

The site also sparked notable demonstrations, including a brief August 2018 exhibition of a bronze Baphomet statue brought by The Satanic Temple to promote religious pluralism after state law blocked its permanent installation. Visiting offers you an honest look at how local monuments can spark powerful nationwide conversations about expression, equal protection, and the law.

What to see at Ten Commandments Monument

• Outdoor monument situated on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds in Little Rock
• Privately funded by State Senator and Christian minister Jason Rapert
• Replaced in April 2018 after the original 2017 structure was destroyed
• Subject of legal challenges by the ACLU, FFRF, and other organizations
• Site of a protest featuring The Satanic Temple's bronze Baphomet statue

Visiting tips

Remember that this monument is located outdoors on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds, so plan your visit around public access to the capitol complex.

How long: 30-60 minutes · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Ten Commandments Monument is easy to reach on Little Rock’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Cathedral of St. Andrew and Old State House. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Little Rock travel guide.