The Empress of Little Rock

In 1888, James H. Hornibrook, a prosperous Little Rock businessman who made his fortune operating a successful saloon and liquor wholesale enterprise, commissioned architects Charles L. Thompson and Benjamin J. Bartlett to design an opulent Victorian residence. Built at a staggering cost of $20,000 using native Arkansas materials—including hand-pressed red bricks, crushed granite, and oak woodwork—the mansion was constructed as a display of Gilded Age wealth in the fashionable Governor's Mansion district of the Quapaw Quarter.

Following Hornibrook's sudden death in 1890, the mansion served as a private residence for several prominent Little Rock families before being sold in the 1920s to the Scottish Rite Masons, who used the estate as a social lodge. Over subsequent mid-century decades, the grand structure underwent various uses, including an apartment house and rooming facility, causing gradual wear to its elaborate interior details.

In 1993, preservationists Sharon Welch-Blair and Robert Blair purchased the deteriorating landmark and undertook a meticulous restoration that received national preservation awards. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the Hornibrook House was reopened as 'The Empress of Little Rock,' a premier luxury bed and breakfast inn recognized by National Geographic Traveler and historic preservation societies.

The primary ghost legend of The Empress of Little Rock surrounds its original builder, James H. Hornibrook. Hornibrook was a distinctive figure in 1880s Little Rock, known for his refined taste and fondness for formal Victorian attire, including a prominent top hat. According to local lore, Hornibrook loved his architectural masterpiece so intensely that his spirit returned to oversee the mansion after his death.

The most famous paranormal incident occurred during the 1990s restoration when a professional painter was hired to work in the upper attic tower. The painter found himself unexpectedly locked out of the attic room, even though the door had no working handle or latch mechanism installed yet. After retrieving a screwdriver, the painter returned to find the door swung wide open and the full-bodied, semi-translucent apparition of a gentleman dressed in a 19th-century suit and top hat standing in the doorway staring directly at him before floating gracefully down the grand staircase.

Another enduring legend involves 'The Sea Captain,' a shadowy spirit associated with a guest room in the carriage house, and a mysterious 'Woman in Pink' who is reportedly seen pacing the wraparound front porch at twilight, looking out toward Louisiana Street as if awaiting a carriage arrival. Innkeepers have also reported hearing footsteps in the tower when no guests were checked into the upper floor.

Innkeepers, maintenance staff, and overnight guests at The Empress of Little Rock have documented a rich array of unexplained occurrences across the main mansion and carriage house suites. Guests staying in upper tower suites routinely report seeing the phantom figure of James Hornibrook floating down the main carved wooden staircase late at night.

Staff members preparing morning breakfasts have experienced heavy brass doorknobs turning unassisted, footsteps pacing empty second-floor hallways, and the gentle sound of classical piano music playing softly in the parlor when no one is near the piano. Unexplained cold spots frequently manifest near the central fireplace mantle.

In addition, visitors have reported strange electrical activity, including bedside lamps turning on and off in unison, digital cameras discharging rapidly in the tower room, and the faint, sweet scent of pipe tobacco and old floral perfume drifting through the dining hall when windows are closed tight. Unexplained whispers are also frequently recorded on night audio gear during investigations.

The Hornibrook House is a masterpiece of Gothic Queen Anne Victorian architecture. The two-story brick structure features dramatic irregular massing, steeply pitched gables, intricate slate roofing, and a striking 3.5-story octagonal tower rising above the main entrance.

The exterior is encircled by a wide wraparound veranda adorned with elaborate gingerbread trim, turned balusters, and ornate archways. The interior retains soaring ceilings, five hand-carved fireplace mantels, original stained glass windows, and a sweeping triple-run oak staircase leading to luxury guest suites and carriage house quarters. The grounds feature manicured gardens, paved brick walkways, a courtyard fountain, and a fully restored carriage house building.

The Empress of Little Rock is located at 2120 South Louisiana Street in the historic Quapaw Quarter of Little Rock, Arkansas. The property operates as a full-service boutique bed and breakfast inn, offering luxury accommodations, private event hosting, and historical property tours by advance reservation.

Visitors interested in historical tours or overnight stays should contact the innkeepers online or by phone. Off-street parking is available on-site for registered guests. The mansion is situated near the Governor's Mansion and downtown Little Rock attractions, providing a historical lodging experience, Victorian elegance, and a memorable stay in Arkansas's capital city for history enthusiasts and travelers alike.

The Empress of Little Rock maintains its iconic haunted reputation due to its architectural grandeur, its status as a Gilded Age masterpiece in Little Rock's Quapaw Quarter, and compelling, repeated reports of James Hornibrook's top-hatted spirit floating down the staircase, making it Arkansas's most famous, elegant, and celebrated haunted bed and breakfast inn and historic landmark across the American South.