In 1722, when French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bernard de La Harpe and his crew were exploring by way of the Arkansas River, they came upon what they called “La Petite Roche”
300 years ago an explorer discovered a small rock outcropping in the Arkansas River. He called it "La Petite Roche," or "The Little Rock," and the name has stuck.
Sturgis Plaza, in Little Rock's downtown River Market District, is lovely this time of year. With mild weather and budding foliage, it welcomes resident families and wide-eyed visitors alike to stroll its winding pathways parallel to the voluptuous Arkansas River.