Dreamland Ballroom
The Friends of Dreamland Welcomes You
Our Mission: Friends of Dreamland celebrates the community of historic West Ninth Street, shares the legacy of Dreamland Ballroom, and preserves the original intent of Taborian Hall.
Dreamland Ballroom is the third floor of The Taborian Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The Friends of Dreamland is a non-profit formed in 2009 to preserve Taborian Hall’s Dreamland Ballroom, and tell the history of this once-thriving African American business district in Little Rock, Arkansas, historically known as “The Line.”
Did you know…
At the turn of the 20th century, Arkansas had more black legislators then any other time in history.
In the early 1900’s, the African American community in Little Rock was referred to as the “prosperous people” by the Arkansas Gazette for their entrepreneurship and overall success.
Taborian Hall was the most expensive building constructed in Little Rock in 1918.
The Taborian Hall at 800 W. 9th St. has stood in downtown Little Rock for over 100 years. Once a central fixture of religious expression, fraternal support, economic progress, and entertainment in the African-American community in the early 20th century, this beautiful old building is now home of Arkansas Flag and Banner and the Dreamland Ballroom.
Make a Venmo donation to: @theDBLR
In March, 2018 the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service awarded a $499,668 African American Civil Rights Preservation Grant to FOD. This grant was used for pest removal and prevention as well as an elevator shaft, initiating Phase I of the Dreamland Ballroom Public Access Project; our effort to make the ballroom American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Check out this blog post for more details on Phase I.
In 2020, FOD was awarded another $499,723 to complete ADA compliance. Phase II will finish the installation of the elevator, add a third-floor handicap bathroom, HVAC, and restore windows all around the building. When complete, the Dreamland Ballroom will be able to operate at full capacity. Finally able to host a full range of public events for the first time in over five decades.
The latest grant was awarded to FOD in 2021 for $498,000. This time, we’ve been granted to work on some actual historic restoration! Historically accurate house lighting, hardwood floors, recreated tin ceiling tiles, the restoration of the stage apron, and the plaster work around the stage proscenium. Find those construction update here.
Champion “The Line”
Explore this site to find out how you can support the Friends of Dreamland!
Look for and attend our annual February fundraiser, Dancing into Dreamland. Donate and be immortalized on the sidewalk around the building through our Pave the Way campaign. Follow us on social media to find out about open tour dates and other events. Not sure how to help? Donate to our general fund! Or contact us for volunteer opportunities or to schedule a group tour!
Arkansas PBS has produced a documentary, “Dream Land: Little Rock’s West 9th Street”, that aired in 2017. Purchase a copy to see this wonderfully crafted story about Little Rock’s W 9th St. Learn more about production here.
In addition, UA Little Rock helped publish a book called, “Temple of Dreams: Taborian Hall and its Dreamland Ballroom” by Berna J Love, which chronicles the Ballroom’s history. Ms. Love also wrote “End of the Line,” a book about The Line and the formation and dissipation of the 9th Street black business district in downtown Little Rock, AR.
Contact us with questions, comments, or just to stay in the loop!
9th Street, Little Rock’s Harlem
Continue your trip down “The Line” and visit our sister building, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. The cultural center is dedicated to “preserve, interpret and celebrate African American history and culture in Arkansas”.
Friends of Dreamland is a 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible