Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced that Helena-West Helena will temporarily become Arkansas’ seat of government on September 3, 2026, as part of her “Capital for a Day” program. The initiative brings the governor and senior state officials outside the state’s traditional capital in Little Rock and into communities across Arkansas.
The designation recognizes Helena-West Helena’s long history, cultural importance and connection to the state’s development. According to the governor’s proclamation, the city will become the 22nd community to take part in the program during Sanders’ administration.
The proclamation points to the history of Helena, which sits along the Mississippi River. The community was established by Sylvanus Phillips and William Russell and was incorporated in 1833 as a river port town. Helena was named after Phillips’ daughter, who died at the age of 15.
West Helena developed later as business leaders sought to accommodate an influx of people moving to the area after the completion of the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad. The community was incorporated in 1917, eventually becoming part of the city now known as Helena-West Helena.
The area also has deep ties to several important periods in American history. During the Civil War, Helena became an important post for the Union Army. Decades later, during World War II, the U.S. military established a flight school in the community and created Thompson-Robbins Airfield. The facility continues to operate today as Thompson-Robbins Airport.
The governor’s proclamation also highlights people with connections to Helena. Ken Hatfield, a former University of Arkansas football coach, was born in the community. Hatfield later became a star player on the University of Arkansas football team that won the national championship in 1964.
Helena was also the birthplace and hometown of former U.S. Senator Blanche Meyers Lambert Lincoln. Lincoln was born and raised in the community and became the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Senate.
Beyond its historical figures, Helena-West Helena has preserved a number of buildings and landmarks that reflect its past. Several local sites are included on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them are the Coolidge House, Phillips County Courthouse, Spirit of the American Doughboy Monument and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The community is also known for its connection to blues music. The Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival began in 1986 and has grown into a major annual event. Today, the festival brings more than 100,000 people to the area each year, drawing visitors and residents together around music and local culture.
Sanders’ “Capital for a Day” program is designed to give state government officials an opportunity to spend time in communities around Arkansas. Rather than conducting state business exclusively from Little Rock, senior officials travel to the selected city and meet with local leaders and their counterparts.
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For Helena-West Helena, the September 3 designation will provide an opportunity to highlight the city while also bringing state government closer to local officials and residents. The temporary move does not change Arkansas’ permanent capital, but it gives the community a symbolic role as the state’s seat of government for the day.
In the proclamation, Sanders formally declared Helena-West Helena the state’s “Capital for a Day” and invited senior state government officials to join her for the visit.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS,” the proclamation states, “Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby name Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, our Capital for a Day on September 3, 2026, and invite our senior state government officials to join me in a visit to the city.”
The proclamation was signed and sealed on September 1, 2026, officially establishing Helena-West Helena as the 22nd “Capital for a Day” under Sanders. The event will briefly place the community at the center of Arkansas government while recognizing its history, landmarks, cultural traditions and contributions to the state.
