Team visits historic Capitol building

LITTLE ROCK -- It was a chance to see history up close for the Decatur soccer team Friday morning when the team took a little time to see several historic buildings in the Arkansas Capitol. For Coach Daniel Meyers, who teaches social studies at Decatur High School, it was his chance to give his kids a live classroom experience.

After an early breakfast in North Little Rock, the group of 25 players and coaches started toward Little Rock for a nice walk down the Arkansas River and a visit to the Capitol Building.

As downtown Little Rock loomed on the horizon, one of the players commented, "Look at how tall those buildings are." He was referring to the Little Rock skyline with several buildings of 20 stories or higher.

The first stop was the River Walk. But there was no place to park the bus, so Meyers took the group to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. A brief stop to explain the library's purpose and then it was on to the Capitol.

As the bus turned on the street leading up the hill to the front of the building, the team got its first view of the Arkansas Capitol with its historic dome, state Senate and state House of Representative wings. The one feature the group was fascinated by was the 10-foot tall solid bronze doors that adorn the front entrance of the rotunda area.

The kids walked the block to climb the granite stairs to the landing in front of the main doors. There they took in the huge doors and the dome itself. Some marveled at the view of downtown Little Rock. The group posed for a few photos before heading back to the bus and back to the hotel for rest before their game against Harding Academy from Searcy later in the afternoon.

This was a rare opportunity for the Decatur soccer team to see Arkansas and some of its historic places and learn a little about the state in which they live and play.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIIKE ECKELS Several members of the Decatur soccer team ascend the stairs to get a closer look at the 10 feet tall bronze doors that lead into the rotunda of the Arkansas Capitol building. For several of the team members, this was their first look at this building. The team was in North Little Rock to play in the state 3A soccer tournament at Burns Park Friday afternoon.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIIKE ECKELS Members of the Decatur soccer team start a slow descent down the stairs at the Arkansas Capitol building Friday morning after getting a first hand view of the 10 foot tall bronze doors that lead into the rotunda. Many of the young players took in the view of Little Rock as they made their way to the bus.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIIKE ECKELS Christian Ramirez sits on a wall near the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol building Friday morning after the Decatur soccer team toured parts of downtown Little Rock just before the team's match with Harding Academy later that afternoon.